Bowing to a challenge from the Connecticut Attorney General's Office, the popular Web site craigslist.org has unveiled new search tools for use by law enforcement aimed at helping track down exploited children and victims of human trafficking, reports the Boston Herald. Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster had said that illegal activity on the site was best handled by the craigslist community, which flags inappropriate advertisers.
Now the site has a partnership with 40 state attorneys general that will help track hookers who moved from the street to the information superhighway by requiring working telephone numbers and credit card payments. That information, on request, will be handed to law enforcement, Buckmaster said. Buckmaster said the site never was threatened with legal action or promised any protection from law enforcement. As part of the agreement, the site created a new search engine with tools accessible only by law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Link: http://www.bostonherald.com/jobfind/news/technology/view/2008_11_09_Craig