Craigslist has shut down its controversial "Adult Services" section -- by replacing the link to that section with the word "censored" written in bold letters on a black background, as you can see for yourself by clicking to its flagship San Francisco website.

Craigslist is the online classified ads service, launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Craig Newmark. It maintains online communities in numerous cities, featuring free classified advertisements to consumers. It makes money by selling paid ads for jobs and apartments.

The self-censoring appears to be in response to this letter from attorneys general in 18 U.S. states to Newmark and Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster. The AGs insisted that Craigslist "immediately take down" the Adult Services section. Here's why, according to an excerpt from the AGs' letter:

In our view, the company should take immediate action to end the misery for the women and children who may be exploited and victimized by these ads. Because craigslist cannot, or will not, adequately screen these ads, it should stop accepting them altogether and shut down the Adult Services section.

TechCrunch first reported the move by Craigslist late Friday night. We're reaching out to Craigslist for comment.

Craiglist last year removed the "erotic services" section of its site and replaced it with a fee-based adult category manually screened by site employees.

Craigslist "Personals" section featuring dating classified ads remains accessible.

UPDATE AT 7:45 p.m. ET: Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, one of the attorneys general who pressed for the change, said in a statement that he welcomed the change and was trying to verify Craigslist's official policy going forward, according to the Associated Press.

Steve Jones, a professor of communication at the University of Illinois in Chicago who has studied Internet culture, told the AP that if Craigslist has left the adult services business for good, it won't likely diminish the online market for sex acts. The business will likely shift to other adult sites, perhaps based outside the United States. "I bet there are people today who are registering domain names and saying: 'Business opportunity for me,'" he said.

By Byron Acohido