Craigslist finally speaks about shut down of adult services section

In a hearing with a House Judiciary subcommittee recently, the popular classifieds website Craigslist said the adult services section of its website will be taken down permanently.

Under pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups, Craigslist had blocked the section earlier this month and placed a black "censor" bar on its website. Company director of customer service and law enforcement relations, William Clinton Powell, told the subcommittee Craigslist had "no intention to bring the category back".

However, that only pertains to Craigslist's U.S. websites. The adult services section will remain up on those in other countries.

The decision to permanently shutter the section quickly drew praise from anti-sex trafficking groups. But it was also viewed as a hit to free speech online.

Earlier this month, 17 attorneys general wrote Craigslist a letter urging the company to shutter the adult services section because increasing criticism "reflects a growing recognition that ads for prostitution - including ads trafficking children - are rampant on it". Shortly after, the black bar appeared on the Craigslist home page.