Craigslist Founder Declines to Shut Down Erotic Ads

Defies Conn. attorney general's request in light of 'Craigslist Killer'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 25, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
Craigslist Founder Declines to Shut Down Erotic Ads
Boston University medical student Philip Markoff stands during his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in Boston.    (Mark Garfinkel)

The founder of Craigslist does not plan to close the "erotic services" section of the website despite criticism that has intensified after Philip Markoff, a Boston medical student, was accused of killing a masseuse who advertised there, and robbing two others. Craig Newmark contends his site already allows users to flag inappropriate material they believe should be removed, and he defied a request from the Connecticut attorney general to eliminate photos and monitor the site for violations of its terms of use.

"Sometimes a bad guy of some sort tries to pull a fast one on our site," he said in an interview that aired last night on ABC News. "We don't want it there, it's wrong, and that's why we have the help of the general community and the law enforcement community getting rid of things like that." (More Philip Markoff stories.)

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