Attorney General Chris Koster has a mid-morning with the internet social networking site Craigslist. His message is a simple one: "Cut the Smut." Koster says people who click onthe "erotic services" part of the huge website will be shocked by what they find there—blatant advertising for prostitution services for all kinds of people by all kinds of people. He says the website might be national, but the behavior they are promoti ng is  local. "If you sign on in St. Louis or in Kansas City,what you’re going to see are the Kansas City or St. Louis prostitutes….Craigslist is involved in fostering an illegal activity."

Koster says some of  the listings have been used by local authorities to run stings to break up prostitution operations. He says he and other Attorneys General can file a nuisance action against Craigslist or charge them with unfair business practices under the merchandising practices laws.

He says his office is working with the legislature to pass at the last minute a new criminal statute that will focus on the kind of activity the list is promoting.

Koster and two other Attorneys General, representing several of their colleagues, will meet with lawyers for owner Craig Newmark. They’ll push the website to live up to its promise last November to clean up its content.

upload BP’s interview with Koster (4:15 mp3)