It was only a matter of time before Craigslist, the online marketplace known for its "for sale" and "personals" sections, would face competition from the likes of Facebook and other social media sites. That day has finally arrived. As of Friday, March 23, 2018, Craigslist has shuttered its "personals" section in the United States in response to the passage of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), which amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
The bill, which was passed by the Senate on March 21 and the House on February 27, makes it illegal for websites to knowingly facilitate sex trafficking. It also holds websites liable for hosting sex trafficking content. The bill's sponsors say it will help crack down on sex trafficking, but critics say it will make the internet less safe for sex workers and could lead to censorship.
The "personals" section on Craigslist was one of the first online places where people could find others interested in casual relationships, dating, or sexual encounters. It was also a place where people could find others with similar interests, whether it be for a platonic relationship or a more sexual one.
The shutdown of Craigslist's "personals" section comes as a result of a bill that was passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill, known as the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Section 230 is a key part of the law that protects internet companies from being held liable for the content that their users post. The amendment would make it so that websites that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking would no longer be protected by this law.
The bill was sponsored by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and it was passed by the Senate by a vote of 97-2. The bill now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass.
President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
The shutdown of Craigslist's "personals" section is a major blow to the online community of sex workers and people who are looking for casual relationships or sexual encounters. The section was one of the last remaining places where people could find others interested in these activities without having to go through a website that is explicitly for adults only.
Now, people who are looking for casual relationships or sexual encounters will have to find other websites or apps to use. This could lead to an increase in the use of sites like Backpage, which has been accused of facilitating sex trafficking.
The bill's sponsors say that it will help crack down on sex trafficking, but critics say that it will make the internet less safe for sex workers and could lead to censorship.
Websites like Craigslist have been a target of law enforcement for years. In 2016, the website was sued by the families of two women who were murdered by a man who they met through the site. The families argued that Craigslist should have been held liable for the murders because it knew that the site was being used by people to solicit sex.
The case was ultimately dismissed, but it highlights the tension between the need to crack down on sex trafficking and the need to protect the rights of internet companies.
Sites like Craigslist have been a lifeline for sex workers and people who are looking for casual relationships or sexual encounters. The shutdown of the "personals" section will be a major blow to these communities.