Craigslist Adult Services Ads Disappear

SAN FRANCISCO — Craigslist has removed its Adult Services section for U.S. visitors, and it will become a penalty for the company that expected to earn $36 million from advertising associated with the section in 2010.

That figure represents one-third of Craigslist’s annual revenue.

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

A statement from San Francisco-based Craigslist officials is expected in the coming days.

Last year the San Francisco based company removed its Erotic Services section and replaced it with a fee-based adult category in response to pressure from 40 state attorneys general. It also adopted a policy of screening every ad.

But numerous Craigslist incidences involving investigations with countless police authorities ensued since then.

And last week in a joint letter to Craigslist, 17 attorneys general said women and children would "continue to be victimized in the market and trafficking provided by Craigslist".

Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster has defended the Adult Services section, saying that shutting it down would only force such ads to other parts of Craigslist and other sites.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 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

X3 Expo Kicks Into Gear With an All-Star Lineup

Outside the historic Hollywood Palladium on Friday, a huge line of fans lined Sunset Boulevard, eagerly awaiting the opening of the 2026 X3 Expo and their big chance to meet the cream of the crop of adult stars.

2026 XMAs: Watch the Global Live Broadcast

The 2026 XMAs, presented by Fansly, will stream live to a global audience via the official event website, welcoming fans worldwide to join a celebration of excellence in adult entertainment.

2026 XBIZ Honors Salutes Resilience Across the Online Adult Industry

The 2026 XBIZ Honors packed house Wednesday night, turning the Kimpton Everly Hotel’s Nichols Ballroom into a gala celebration of industry excellence.

Elevated X Adds CCBill Integration for Payment Processing

Elevated X has added CCBill integration for payment processing to its ELXNexus traffic management and affiliate program software.

Florida Congressman Files Latest Bill to Repeal Section 230

Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida has become the latest member of Congress to propose legislation that would repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects interactive computer services — including adult platforms — from liability for user-generated content.

Irish Parliamentary Committee Weighs Stricter AV Laws

The Irish national parliament’s Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport met Wednesday to discuss regulation of online platforms and improving online safety, including calls for stricter age verification by adult sites.

Ofcom Issues Guidance on Age Check Placement for Adult Sites

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Wednesday published its recommendations for where and how adult sites should deploy age checks as required for compliance with the Online Safety Act.

Tubes Booster Launches Web Hosting Solutions

Content hosting platform Tubes Booster has launched two new hosting solutions.

YourPaysitePartner Rebrands as Paysite.com

YourPaysitePartner has officially been rebranded as Paysite.com.

SWR Data Announces 2026 'State of Creator' Winter Report

Adult industry market research outfit SWR Data has announced that it will release data from its annual State of the Creator survey at an XBIZ LA workshop, taking place at the Kimpton Everly Hotel.

Show More