The Missing Link

February 08, 2006

Craig's List Sued

Craig's List is being sued:

A Chicago fair housing group has sued groundbreaking Web site Craigslist for allegedly publishing discriminatory advertisements, a case that could test the legal liabilities of online ad venues.

The suit is part of an emerging attempt by housing watchdogs nationally to hold online classified sites to the same strict standards as the publishers of print classifieds, such as newspapers.

The suit is potentially significant because it suggests that the rules for an Internet site should be the same as for a traditional publisher, in which every ad should be vetted to conform with the law. But that notion contradicts the way the Internet has blossomed, where informal communities tend to police themselves and free expression is valued.

I find housing ads that discriminate on the basis of race abhorrent, but holding Craig's List responsible for the behavior of every user who posts on it would effectively end Craig's List, or at least its housing posts.

Unfortunately there are racist people out there. Allowing them to undermine a much loved resource like Craig's List gives them too much power.

Glenn Reynolds has more thoughts.

Posted by Conor at February 8, 2006 06:03 PM