Craigslist Testifies to Congress: U.S. Adult Ads Are Gone Forever

Leading anti-trafficking experts and a representative from Craigslist testified before Congress today on child sex trafficking in America. The first public statement from the company since abruptly blocking their controversial "adult services" site was clear: adult services are permanently gone from the U.S. The other 250 country sites that Craigslist operates, not so much.

The standing room-only Congressional hearing focused on the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims Support Act, which was proposed by Carolyn Maloney and Chris Smith. If passed, it would provide critical resources like shelter, law enforcement training, and rehabilitative services for the estimated 100,000 child victims of sex trafficking in the U.S. Rep. Maloney pointed out that the U.S. currently spends more money combating human trafficking overseas than at home, and foreign victims have access to more support than American victims in America. Experts from around the country also testified specifically about the role of the Internet in child sex trafficking. Trafficking survivor-turned-advocate Tina Frundt of Courtney's House said every single victim she's worked with has been sold on Craigslist at some point, and every pimp she's met has a MySpace page where they recruit. And all agreed that in the 21st century, child sex trafficking has gone cyber.

But the main event was Clint Powell, Director of Customer Service and Law Enforcement Relations for Craigslist, who for the first time since their abrupt September 3 block of the adult services section, spoke publicly about the company's decision. He stated that Craigslist's adult services section is gone for good in the U.S. and the company has no plans to reinstate it. The international sites, however, are still up, and Craigslist isn't looking to take them down any time soon. When Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee baldly asked why it took them so long to take down the section, Powell hemmed and hawed and ultimately came up empty handed. And when I asked him to comment on the 7,000 Change.org readers who have asked Craigslist to stop advertising for sex trafficking on their international sites, he  referred me to their press office.

Powell and his lawyer enumerated the ways Craigslist has cooperated with law enforcement and NGOs in the past, but while the arguments were cogent, the tone was reminiscent of a petulant child grudgingly accepting a punishment. They also pointed out Craiglist's decision to shut down the section has not been universally applauded and expressed concern that trafficking would only migrate to other sites. They pointed out Backpage.com, which also has adult ads, saw a traffic spike when Craigslist shut down. Another reason to ask Village Voice Media to stop advertising for sex trafficking on Backpage.com.

In response to the Craigslist testimony, Shared Hope International Founder and Director Linda Smith said,

"It's encouraging that Craigslist took [the section] down, but I'm concerned at their idea that commercial sex venues can't create the opportunity for victimization. Men are demanding younger girls, so when you create a market, there will be a young product in it."

Today's hearing, Craigslist's testimony, and the aftermath of the closure of their adult services section will surely not be the end of child sex trafficking on the Internet or the many brave people fighting against it. If anything, it will be the beginning.

Photo credit: keithreifsnyder