CHAPTER 14 Regulations and Ethica CASE CRAIGSLIST: COMMUNITY AND CONTROVERSY 2 Den PRESOS In 1995, Craig Newmark, an enterprising software engineer, created an e-mail list for friends and coworkers. At the time, he that offered adult services with the word "Censored" over the was employed by Schwab after stints with several other com- listing. Some viewed the action as a form of protest more than panies in IT departments. In 1999, Craig Newmark retired and the attempt to slow adult solicitation of sexual activity, began working full time on the Craigslist Web site. Even after these events had been addressed, many com- The original intention of the page was to help people to plain that some of the content on Craigslist is explicitly sexual, locate jobs, housing, goods, services, romance, local activities, scatological, offensive, graphic, tasteless, and/or not funny. and advice-just about anything. Today, the site provides local The site acknowledges that this is the case. classified ads and forums for over 450 cities worldwide. By At the same time, Craigslist is involved in community work, 2008, Craigslist had over 9 billion visitors per month makes charitable contributions, and serves as a resource for In 2000, the organization was headed by a new CEO, Jim nonprofit organizations. The company's mission includes a Buckmaster. Buckmaster has been described as a communist. statement regarding "helping people help." a socialistic anarchist, and an anti-establishment leader. He has 1. How might laws and regulations associated with market- been condemned by many, including now-deceased minister ing affect an organization such as Craigslist? Jerry Falwell on a national Fox television broadcast. 2. Should any additional laws be created to deal with social Why such a high level of antipathy toward an organization community Web sites such as Craigslist? If so, what type? linked with eBay (25 percent ownership)? Why the frustration 3. What are the moral implications of a Web site that hosts with a forum for finding a house or getting a job? The answer arrangements for ethically questionable activities, such as may be with the community itself sexual encounters among married people with nonspouse Although Craigslist is careful to avoid illegal activities, such partners? as cyber-stalking, identity theft, and prostitution, it has been used to facilitate some of these crimes. For example, one 4. How do the concepts regarding social responsibility apply woman used Craigslist to find a contract killer to execute her to an organization such as Craigslist? husband. In 2010, Craiglist deleted one page of the Web site CHAPTER 14 Regulations and Ethica CASE CRAIGSLIST: COMMUNITY AND CONTROVERSY 2 Den PRESOS In 1995, Craig Newmark, an enterprising software engineer, created an e-mail list for friends and coworkers. At the time, he that offered adult services with the word "Censored" over the was employed by Schwab after stints with several other com- listing. Some viewed the action as a form of protest more than panies in IT departments. In 1999, Craig Newmark retired and the attempt to slow adult solicitation of sexual activity, began working full time on the Craigslist Web site. Even after these events had been addressed, many com- The original intention of the page was to help people to plain that some of the content on Craigslist is explicitly sexual, locate jobs, housing, goods, services, romance, local activities, scatological, offensive, graphic, tasteless, and/or not funny. and advice-just about anything. Today, the site provides local The site acknowledges that this is the case. classified ads and forums for over 450 cities worldwide. By At the same time, Craigslist is involved in community work, 2008, Craigslist had over 9 billion visitors per month makes charitable contributions, and serves as a resource for In 2000, the organization was headed by a new CEO, Jim nonprofit organizations. The company's mission includes a Buckmaster. Buckmaster has been described as a communist. statement regarding "helping people help." a socialistic anarchist, and an anti-establishment leader. He has 1. How might laws and regulations associated with market- been condemned by many, including now-deceased minister ing affect an organization such as Craigslist? Jerry Falwell on a national Fox television broadcast. 2. Should any additional laws be created to deal with social Why such a high level of antipathy toward an organization community Web sites such as Craigslist? If so, what type? linked with eBay (25 percent ownership)? Why the frustration 3. What are the moral implications of a Web site that hosts with a forum for finding a house or getting a job? The answer arrangements for ethically questionable activities, such as may be with the community itself sexual encounters among married people with nonspouse Although Craigslist is careful to avoid illegal activities, such partners? as cyber-stalking, identity theft, and prostitution, it has been used to facilitate some of these crimes. For example, one 4. How do the concepts regarding social responsibility apply woman used Craigslist to find a contract killer to execute her to an organization such as Craigslist? husband. In 2010, Craiglist deleted one page of the Web site
