After being shut down in the United States in September of this year, Craigslist has pulled the plug on its controversial "adult services" section worldwide.
The highly-criticized area of Craigslist was laced with ads for sexual favors and escort services, which states’ attorney generals maintained contributed to human trafficking and prostitution. In a letter from 17 state attorneys in late August, the law makers urged the online site to heed to the increasing public criticism of the section and crimes committed by users of the service.
"No amount of money, however, can justify the scourge of illegal prostitution, and the suffering of the women and children who will continue to be victimized, in the market and trafficking provided by craigslist," the attorney generals wrote.
Although advocates praised Craigslist’s action, sex trafficking over the internet is alive and well on other sites. Backpage.com, another classified ads service, has reportedly seen its traffic spike since the "adult services" section was shuttered.
