Cuomo Uses Craigslist To Bust Prostitution Ring... Still Blaming Craigslist

from the think-about-that-for-a-second... dept

Following Craigslist's big announcement last week on the changes to how it handles "adult" ads, Andrew Cuomo angrily denounced the changes, claiming that several weeks before, "we informed Craigslist of an impending criminal case that implicated its website." It seems the details of that case have now become clear, as a prostitution ring that solely worked via Craigslist was busted by Cuomo. Yet, rather than recognize that the information on Craigslist allowed them to track down and arrest this crew, Cuomo is still lashing out at the site:

"Unless craigslist gets serious about putting real protections in place, it will continued to be an environment where criminal operations thrive with impunity,"

Does Andrew Cuomo even realize what he's saying? He's saying that they'll operate with impunity right after he showed that's not true by arresting them. Given the fact that Craigslist cooperates with the police (and one assumes it did in this case as well, given that Cuomo approached them about it "weeks ago"), then Craigslist actually helped the police catch these criminals. Does Cuomo blame AT&T after AT&T helps him get a wireptap in a criminal investigation? After all, AT&T provided the phone system, which allowed the criminal operations to thrive with impunity.

Filed Under: andrew cuomo, new york, photo op, prostitution
Companies: craigslist

Andrew Cuomo Angry That Craigslist Stole His Photo Op

from the wow dept

This morning we posted the news about Craigslist giving in to angry Attorneys General who were misguided in their anger. In it, we discussed how this was a larger version of NY AG Andrew Cuomo's tactics to force internet companies to censor, despite no legal basis. However, it looks like Andrew Cuomo is pissed that others have taken his tactics and didn't give him a chance to be involved. Thomas O'Toole alerts us to this stunning statement from Cuomo who appears to be quite angry that this decision was made without him present:

"Several weeks ago, we informed Craigslist of an impending criminal case that implicated its website. Rather than work with this office to prevent further abuses, in the middle of the night, Craigslist took unilateral action which we suspect will prove to be half-baked."

O'Toole's summary is dead on: "Curses, you stole my photo op!" So when we wrote the original post wondering how soon it would be before AGs were upset with the new plan, we knew something like this would happen eventually. We just didn't think it would be a matter of hours.

Filed Under: andrew cuomo, new york, photo op, prostitution
Companies: craigslist