Tech Search

The... company's announcement was made to lawmakers at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on child sex trafficking, the first comments by the San Francisco-based company, which has been called the biggest online store for online sex predators. The company's move has highlighted a debate over free speech and the role of Internet Web sites in sex crimes and whether federal lawmakers need to update laws to make sites such as Craigslist responsible when their sites facilitate crimes.

The company defended itself in the hearing, saying it has worked closely with law enforcement to help curb criminal activity. It hands over credit card information and manually screens ads for prostitution and child exploitation.

"Craigslist has been virtually alone in combating exploitation," said William Powell, director of customer service and law enforcement relations for Craigslist. On Sept. 3, after it was sent letters from 18 attorneys general to stop adult services ads, it shut down that category, but has not responded to media questions as to whether the move was permanent. The company has also been asked to shut down adult services categories outside the U.S., where erotic ads still exist.

Powell did not address concerns over Craigslist's ongoing international erotic services ads but said that in the United States, "We have no plans to reinstate the category."