Judge rules AG can't charge Craigslist

CHARLESTON, S.C., May 24 (UPI) -- A judge says the South Carolina attorney general can't bring prostitution-related charges against the Craigslist online ad service for now.

U.S. District Court Judge C. Weston Houck granted Craigslist's request for a temporary restraining order Friday preventing Attorney General Henry McMaster from charging it for ads soliciting prostitution among its user-generated content, CNN reported Sunday.

McMaster had reportedly set a deadline of May 15 for Craigslist to take down portions of its site he says allows "the solicitation of prostitution and the dissemination and posting of graphic pornographic material" or face criminal charges.

Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster filed a countersuit claiming McMasters' ultimatum violates the Web site's right to free speech as well as the Communications Decency Act, which holds Internet forum providers such as Craigslist can't be held criminally responsible for criminal activity by users of the forum, CNN reported.

Houck ruled the merits of Craiglist's suit must make its way through the court before McMasters can criminally charge the Web site, the broadcaster said.