Cook County Sheriff Sues Craigslist

Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County, IL, has civilly sued Craigslist over the Internet site's Erotic Listings.  The suit seems a bit unusual as there is no indication that Dart is planning to run for higher office.  Dart believes that Craigslist facilitates and profits from prostitution.  Craigslist has tried to work with Dart's office long before the suit was filed.  It has also worked with various state attorneys general to cooperate on plans to catch child pornographers and human traffickers using the site.  Despite the arrests of individuals who use Craigslist for illegal purposes, Dart's position is that Craigslist should shut down the Erotic Services section of the site.  Nothing less will do. 

Craigslist intends to fight the suit, saying federal law protects it from suits over content posted by users.  In essence, they are saying that the sheriff should go after the violators.  Not every offer of erotic services is illegal, even though they may offend some.  Federal courts have protected web sites in other circumstances where people have done terrible things to each other.  Tom Dart may find out that his status as sheriff doesn't change that.

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