HARTFORD, Conn. – In the wake of the arrest of Philip Markoff for allegedly killing one woman and robbing another, both of whom advertised sexual or escort services on Craig’s List, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has recommended a series of measures he would like to see implemented by the iconic website that he says would help prevent the sorts of crimes that occurred last week.

In a press release issued today, Blumenthal’s office proposed “strong and specific new measures to fight prostitution and pornography on craigslist — including steep financial penalties for rule breaking, and incentives for reporting wrongdoing.”

The statement continues, “Prostitution advertisements and pornography remain rampant on craigslist, warranting additional action strengthening the craigslist agreement announced last year with 40 attorneys general led by Blumenthal.”

The specific measures poroposed by Blumenthal are:

• Eliminate photographs in the “Erotic Services” and similar sections of its site.
• Alternatively, implement technology that screens pornographic images and pictures before they can be posted.
• Immediately hire staff to screen for images and ads that blatantly violate craigslist’s terms of service.
• Charge a significant fee to the credit card of any individual posting in the “Erotic Services” section found to be in violation of craigslist’s rules or terms of service.
• Offer a financial incentive — from the penalty proceeds — for anyone who correctly flags and reports prostitution advertisements or ads containing images or other material that violate craigslist’s rules and terms of service.
• Implement identity verification technology for users that post in the “Erotic Services” section to confirm real names and addresses.
• Disallow search terms that clearly are associated with the promotion of prostitution.

Last year, under pressure from state AGs throughout the country, Craig’s List agreed to require posters of erotic services ads to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. The site also agreed to provide the resulting information in response to law enforcement subpoenas, and to forward all erotic services ad proceeds to charitable organizations.

It also agreed to deploy search technology that it had developed to assist law enforcement in identifying missing persons, children and victims of human trafficking – and to explore technologies that can block inappropriate image uploads and better filter out code words and euphemisms for illegal activity.

Blumenthal praised Craigslist for its past assistance, but said that more action was urgently needed and that he was willing to meet with representatives from the website as soon as possible to discuss the implementation of his proposals.

“My proposals are feasible and affordable — including readily available new technology to block pornography and screen out prostitutes, along with financial penalties and incentive payments. Requiring telephone numbers and credit card charges for erotic services ads were good steps, but not sufficient, he said. “Pornography and prostitutes have diminished, but hardly disappeared — an un-endangered species alarmingly alive and well in craigslist’s erotic services section.

“Enforcement must be matched with prevention — powerful financial penalties, charged to credit cards when users defy craigslist’s prohibition against porn and prostitution. Proceeds can fund incentive payments to users who report wrongdoing — encouraging all craigslist users to join the fight. Money is a powerful weapon, and incentive, in crime fighting.”