The infamous part of the site is now marked in black with the label “censored.” San Francisco-based classifieds service, had been heavily criticized by the public over its adult services ads. Craigslist’s adult services ads were the subject of intense criticism from public officials in 17 states. Article source!

The attorneys general said the increasing public reaction against the ads indicated that Craigslist’s adult services section had been viewed as an oasis for prostitution. The attorneys explained that Craigslist cannot screen these ads so it should stop posting any.

Craigslist shut its erotic section down in May, last year. This was after the arrest and prosecution of the “Craigslist Killer”, Philip Markoff. The company was accused of facilitating prostitution. In October, a judge in Illinois dismissed this lawsuit. He ruled that Craigslist was not responsible for the actions of its customers.

Craigslist gained its popularity in 1995 after Craig Newmark started the classified service. Craigslist now is the first choice for many online classified advertisements, such as housing, jobs, personals or gigs. Popularity soon turned into notoriety, as the company became embroiled in controversy and illegal activity by users.

A Minneapolis woman pleaded to guilty at a federal court in September 2007 for running a underage prostitution company through the firm. A Minneapolis woman responded to an advertisement for a new nanny and the next month her body was found in the car trunk. Michael John Anderson has been convicted for the crime in 2009.

Craigslist announced, in 2008, that they would crack down against malicious ads. They required users who placed erotic ads to post a number and pay with a valid card.

In March of 2009, a Cook County Illinois Sheriff sued Craigslist over its erotic ads section, which he claimed was promoting or facilitating prostitution. Craigslist claimed that the volume of ads received daily was too large for it to screen, nor was federal law requiring it to do so.

Markoff, 23-year old medical student from Boston University, had been arrested on suspicion for the murder of masseuse Julissa Brishman in April. Markoff, a 23-year-old medical student at Boston University, was arrested in April last year on suspicion of murdering masseuse Julissa Brisman. He committed suicide inside his jail cell while awaiting trial in August.