From what I heard the Canadian shutdown had more to do with a 14 yr old from Vancouver who was using Craiglist to solict business. . . .
Canadian politicians may croon victory, but the simple truth is Craigslist pulled the plug on the Erotic Services section worldwide.
The simple reason is that the ER section caused headaches and hassles like no other section. Not only a lightning rod for attacks from prudes on the religulous right, but also a constant pain in the ass from bickering posters, users and flaggers.
Life will be much simpler now for Craigslist.
And what did Craigslist lose, apart from controversy?
Nothing.
On the other hand, had it required credit a card payment for every ad posted in the ER section, even a mere $5 or $10, the phenomenal flow of revenue would have prompted Craigslist to finance a (undoubtedly winning) legal battle all the way to the supreme court in defence of the right to freedom of expression.
But with no revenue source to justify the existence of the controversial ER section, once American politicians discovered it and got on the soapbox, its demise was inevitable.
In the words of Kurt Weill, falling from the lips of the Emcee in Cabaret:
"Money makes the world go round!"