Craigslist Sues SC AG to Stop Charges

(NEWSER) - Craigslist is due an apology from South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, the site’s CEO writes on his company blog, after threatening “unwarranted and unconstitutional charges against us that are clearly barred by federal law.” What’s more, Jim Buckmaster charges, Craigslist isn’t the only outlet running the “adult services” ads McMaster targeted—asking if he’ll go after the CEOs of AT&T, Microsoft, and the South Carolina newspapers he’ll need in his next campaign. More»

Site has not complied with deal to curtail escort outfits: AG

(AP) - South Carolina's top prosecutor today called on Craigslist executives to take down ads related to prostitution and pornography or face prosecution. “It appears that the management of Craigslist has knowingly allowed the site to be used for illegal and unlawful activity,” wrote Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s AG, “after warnings from law enforcement officials and after an agreement with 40 state attorneys general." More»

(NEWSER) - Sure, the ads in Craigslist’s new “Adult Services” section are tamer than those that appeared in the old “Erotic Services” category, shuttered after the firestorm surrounding the “Craigslist killer” case. But read between the lines and the meaning is still the same, Chris Matyszczyk writes for CNET. “This is little more than a dance, a dysfunctional Argentine tango between those who advertise sexual services on Craigslist and those who have sought to pursue the site.” More»

Prostitutes feel no safer with new rules

(NEWSER) - Craigslist's new "adult services" section is doing little to curb prostitution and may actually be making the profession more dangerous, Ars Technica reports. With the demise of the explicit erotic services page, many posters have started using code words like "erotic massages" and "french lessons" and less explicit photos to recruit clientele on other Craigslist pages. More»

Advertised 'freelance' job was to 'eradicate' wife of woman's lover

(NEWSER) - A Michigan woman posted a job on Craigslist last year to murder her lover's wife, the FBI announced yesterday. Ann Marie Linscott, 49, put up a generic "freelance" ad but asked responders to "eradicate a female living in Oroville, California" for $5,000. "I've seen some screwy things, but I've personally never heard of anything like this," an FBI agent said. More»