My read is the move was more about the money laundering than either "protecting the children" or "facilitating prostitution".
The site was used by many local agencies to help with busts, etc.
Personally, I am against the takedown. The laws around consenting adults engaging in private transactions should be legalized. My understanding is that the site did have measures in place to help with the underage aspect, but that is from reading more balanced news accounts.
The money laundering was the moving of funds to savings accounts, and other accounts in his name or business name. It's money laundering because the proceeds were allegedly derived from an illegal act. But not what people typically think of money laundering.
The site was used by many local agencies to help with busts, etc.
Personally, I am against the takedown. The laws around consenting adults engaging in private transactions should be legalized. My understanding is that the site did have measures in place to help with the underage aspect, but that is from reading more balanced news accounts.