You may not use any automated tools — or manually replicate their function — to collect or interact with Craigslist content, and any third-party software that interacts with Craigslist requires a separate written license.
This analysis describes what Craigslist's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The prohibition covers both automated tools and manual equivalents, and applies broadly to any software beyond standard browsers and email clients, meaning developers, researchers, and businesses face significant legal exposure for common data collection or integration activities without prior written authorization.
Interpretive note: The enforceability of scraping restrictions grounded in terms of service alone, without technical access barriers, is subject to ongoing judicial development in the US, particularly following Ninth Circuit rulings on CFAA applicability to publicly accessible websites.
Any developer, researcher, or business that uses scripts, bots, or third-party tools to access or collect Craigslist data is exposed to liquidated damages under the accompanying damages schedule, and even high-volume manual access (over 1,000 pages per day) can trigger per-page charges under the terms.
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Lyft reserves the right, for example, to limit or eliminate access to the Lyft Platform for Rideshare Services, Third-Party Services, and/or Lyft Services in specific geographic areas and/or at specific times...
Microsoft reserves the right to restrict the export of data that may compromise the security of the services or Microsoft's intellectual property.
"Unless licensed by us in a separate written or electronic agreement, you agree not to use or provide software (except our App and general purpose web browsers and email clients) or services that interact or interoperate with CL, e.g. for downloading, uploading, creating/accessing/using an account, posting, flagging, emailing, searching, or mobile use. You agree not to copy/collect CL content via robots, spiders, scripts, scrapers, crawlers, or any automated or manual equivalent (e.g., by hand).Excerpt from Craigslist's Terms of Use
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), which prohibits unauthorized access to computer systems and has been applied in scraping disputes, though the scope of CFAA liability for terms-of-service-based …
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The prohibition covers both automated tools and manual equivalents, and applies broadly to any software beyond standard browsers and email clients, meaning developers, researchers, and businesses face significant legal exposure for common data collection or integration activities without prior written authorization.
Any developer, researcher, or business that uses scripts, bots, or third-party tools to access or collect Craigslist data is exposed to liquidated damages under the accompanying damages schedule, and even high-volume manual access (over 1,000 pages per day) can trigger per-page charges under the terms.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 262 platforms. See the full comparison.
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