There's an Update on Security for Biden's Gaza Port and a New 'Peacekeeping...
Biden Blows Off Respects for Murdered New York City Police Officer
New York City Councilwoman Gets Ratioed Into Oblivion Over One Question
Federal Court Makes Major Ruling on Ballot Verification in Pennsylvania
Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced in Massive Crypto Fraud Case
‘No Tampons, No Peace!’: Panic at Vanderbilt University Sit-In As Protestors Realize It...
Charlotte Radio Host Speaks Out About His Interview With KJP That Made Headlines
Trump, Biden Will Both Be in New York on Thursday...but for Very Different...
Who Will Replace Mike Gallagher? Poll Shows It's Pro-Trump Alex Bruesewitz’s 'Race to...
Flashback: Two Cycles After Running on Gore's Ticket, Lieberman Endorses McCain at GOP...
Here's When Impeachment Articles Against Mayorkas Will Be Presented to the Senate
Tennessee Music Venue to Host ‘Trans Day Of Vengeance’ Event One Year After...
There Was Very Little Pete Buttigieg Was Able to Tell Us About Bridge...
An Illegal Alien Encouraged Others to Invade American Homes. Here's What Happened Next.
Time for Another Bizarre, Easily-Disprovable Lie From Joe Biden
OPINION

Hookers Over Censors

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

The first case of prostitution probably dates back to the Paleolithic era, and the last instance of quid pro sexus most likely will take place whenever it is that human civilization finally expires.

Advertisement

The mere existence of crime is not ample justification to ignore it, of course, but most of us would concede that banning ads from the "erotic services" section of Craigslist will bring only a negligible change in the bottom line in harlotry.

So the crusade by 40 state attorney generals and other opportunistic politicians to control language on Craigslist -- and social networking sites, such as MySpace -- will have only long-term implications for free speech on the Internet.

The keyed-up moralistic campaign to force Craigslist to eliminate "erotic service" listings began in earnest when a Boston University student named Philip Markoff allegedly murdered a masseuse named Julissa after the two met on Craigslist.

This crime provided the opportunity for a number of state officials not only to imply that the site was generating criminal behavior but also to dictate what is permissible speech on the site.

Craigslist finally surrendered to the mounting pressure and will begin manual screening of an "adult" section and ban any "ads suggesting or implying an exchange of sexual favors for money … pornographic images, or images suggestive of an offer of sexual favors."

Obviously, it is the right of Craigslist to monitor content. But just as obviously, this change in policy was precipitated by the force and threats of government. Now merely "implying" illegal behavior or having participants meet on a site and later engage in illegal behavior is enough for attorney generals to threaten legal action. And what exactly did this victory over Craigslist accomplish?

Advertisement

Even if you don't believe, as I do, that consenting adults should be able to engage in any sexual relationship (even ones involving cash payouts) without interference, you probably still could concede that prostitutes meeting their johns online rather than on street corners is safer for them and healthier for all of us.

Moreover, about 20 million pages are viewed on Craigslist every month. The number of criminal incidents springing from activity on the site is miniscule -- or, I suspect, percentagewise, comparable to how many crimes stem from telephone calls, texting or smoke signals.

Finally, does any reasonable person believe that a murderer or pedophile will be dissuaded from his calling by this new policy?

Nevertheless, attempts to control Internet speech (in the end, impossible) are picking up pace.

Take, for instance, the 2006 tragic suicide of Megan Meier, who killed herself after being harassed on MySpace. It has led to a frightening attempt to crack down on speech. The Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last month by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif.

Exploiting the suicide of a young girl, this proposed law would punish anyone who "transmits … communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using … email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, (or) text messages … to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior."

Advertisement

Imagine the wide-ranging latitude law enforcement would have in applying a law that allows them to judge "intent" and discern what is "hostile" language online.

How many e-mails, comment sections and blogs would fall under this category? How easy would it be to use this law to threaten political opponents or stifle debate?

Now, however serious the problems of "cyberbullying" or prostitution happen to be -- and I believe they are wildly exaggerated -- it's attacks on free expression that should cause us emotional distress.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos