A crackdown on prostitution ads on the Craigslist Web site has begun in partnership with attorneys general from 40 states, including Hawaii.

As part of Craigslist's agreement with the attorneys general, anyone who posts an “;erotic services”; ad will be required to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. The personal information will be provided to law enforcement if subpoenaed.

Although there appears to have been no official complaints to local law enforcement regarding the ads, the state Attorney General's Office was still concerned. The ads are accessible to children.

“;It's recognizing our current technology, and that we need to work together to combat it on a national level,”; said Deputy Attorney General Kristin Izumi-Nitao of the office's Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The site has a number of ads with sexually explicit photos for “;erotic services”; throughout the state, from Waikiki to Kihei, Maui.

Jim Buckmaster, Craigslist's chief executive officer, said the deal will allow legitimate escort services to continue advertising, while providing a strong disincentive to companies that are conducting illegal activity.

“;We don't view it as a penalty, we view it as raising the accountability,”; he said. “;A legitimate business should have no problem with that. They should have no problem providing a phone number or credit card credentials.”;

Craigslist this week filed lawsuits against 14 software and Internet companies that help people who post erotic service ads to circumvent the Web site's defense against inappropriate content and illegal activity.

The site, which posts 30 million ads a month for everything from apartment rentals to jobs, will also use new search technology in an effort to help authorities find missing children and victims of human trafficking.

“;There are allegations of child prostitution occurring as well,”; Izumi-Nitao said.

The agreement was joined by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who spearheaded the agreement, said his office contacted the company after receiving several complaints from users last year.