Craigslist Pulls ‘Censored’ Bar From Adult Services Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Craigslist has removed the censored bar it had placed over its adult services section after it shut down the section last weekend.

The site replaced the section with the black bar about a week after a group of state attorneys said there weren't enough protections against blocking potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution.

Craigslist spokesperson Susan MacTavish would not comment but told the New York Times that the ads are still blocked.

The Times report said that analysts speculate that Craigslist used the word “censored” to make a statement.

“Though Craigslist is not legally responsible for what people post on its site, state attorneys general and advocacy groups have been pressuring the company to shut down the adult services section. But analysts also said that the outpouring of attention that Craigslist’s sex ads have received in recent days would make it very difficult for the site to bring back the ads,” the report stated.

“I’m very convinced that this is permanent, even if it was not their intention to make it permanent,” said Peter M. Zollman, founding principal of the Advanced Interactive Media Group, a consulting firm that follows Craigslist closely.

“I think it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to go back and reopen that section without really running into a buzzsaw of negative publicity and reaction.”

Strong opposition from four human rights groups demanded that the company also close the adult services section on all of its international sites.

But there has been some support to reopen the section.

Danah Boyd, a Microsoft senior researcher who said she was a victim of violence, wrote on Huffington Post that the section increases visibility for victims and helps law enforcement track criminals.

“If you want to end human trafficking, if you want to combat non-consensual prostitution, if you care about the victims of the sex-power industry, don’t cheer Craigslist’s censorship,” she wrote.

Matt Zimmerman, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote that “supporters of the First Amendment should loudly voice their opposition to this type of misguided rhetoric from elected officials.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Ofcom Investigates 2 Adult Sites for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom is investigating two adult sites for failure to comply with age assurance requirements under the Online Safety Act, which Ofcom is charged with enforcing.

MojoHost to Launch New Servers for Clients

MojoHost has announced that they will launch new GPU servers for their clients.

Maximilian Peldszus Joins Fanblast

Former BestFans CEO Maximilian Peldszus has joined creator software company Fanblast.

Kiiroo Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Kiiroo has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Eurorgazm Joins ASACP as In-Kind Media Sponsor

Eurorgazm Magazine has signed on as the latest In-Kind Media Sponsor for Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP).

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the Power Tier upgrade to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

Abella Danger to Host 2025 XMA Creator Awards

the 2025 XMA Creator Awards, presented by premier creator platform Fansly.

Joi AI Joins Pineapple Support as Partner-Level Sponsor

Joi AI (formerly Eva AI) has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

German Court Upholds Ban on PornHub, YouPorn

Germany’s Berlin Administrative Court has upheld a “network ban” on adult sites Pornhub and YouPorn for failing to comply with that country’s age verification regulations.

OurDream.ai Debuts New Porn Generator

OurDream.ai, an AI porn-generating platform, has launched an upgraded version of its AI engine.

Show More