Greg Collier, the CEO of classifieds site Geebo.com, issued the following statement about craigslist’s new measures of changing erotic services to adult services.
Hat’s off to Craigslist for taking a step in the right direction by removing the “erotic services” section off of their site. I, along with the legal authorities, parents and other online classified site owners, appreciate them doing, well, something.
Upon their announcement of eliminating the “erotic services” section that has been linked to a variety of illegal activities, ranging from prostitution and smuggling, to theft and murder, Craigslist began doing everything they could think of to re-invent this criminal category. Immediately, “erotic services” became “adult services”, though I have yet to discern the difference. At this point a defiant teenager’s words are more sincere than those spouted by the Craigslist crew.
Craigslist also stated that they would now be monitoring such “adult services” posts. Apparently they have devised a way to do so since their earlier complaint of this impossibility. I’d love to hear how. While Geebo manually monitors every post, in every category, every day, we know such a practice is feasible. However, we do not believe that even our detailed monitoring system can adequately protect the users of an “erotic” or “adult” category. For a company that has never been hands-on or concerned with the safety of their users, I cringe at what their interpretation of monitoring such a category may mean.
I would like to believe that Craigslist’s decision to monitor and remove, cough-transform, their “erotic services” section came as an internal, company-wide epiphany of the need to protect the privacy and well-being of their users. For Geebo, such practice is common sense. With the pressures of police departments nationwide and court systems threatening to shut them down, I doubt this was Craigslist’s personal decision.
The only change I can see from a quick glance at Craigslist’s disguised “erotic services” section is that it now costs more to post. What irony.
Craigslist’s supposed fix-it actions are in direct conflict with what is found in the “adult services” section at this very moment. A new name does not equal a new result. Craigslist must be held accountable for their reckless conduct, irresponsible behavior and empty promises.
Geebo willingly provides our users with safety, security and privacy when searching and responding to posts on our website. We don’t believe that a degree of protection is an unreasonable request of those entrusting us with their personal information and life. In fact, we gladly refuse to allow an “erotic” or “adult” services category to ensure user safety and comfort.
Geebo is one of a kind, but in a situation such as this we wish our practice was everyone’s practice.
Again, in the interest of transparency I have no financial stake in Geebo.com.
