liz mcdougal said it's not about money. that was her line when we walked about why backpage isn't verifying the ages of the people who are advertised on the site. why not make the people go to a local backpage office in person and show an i.d.? here's what she said. >> money is not the issue. the issue is who how do -- the issue is how do you functionally implement this? >> unless the person comes directly in and you have to show an i.d. >> right. which if you have any knowledge and understanding of how the internet works is a practical impossibility in the internet realm. >> do you know when you'll be able to decide whether or not you can do that, physical verification. >> it's a matter of exploring and programming and collaboration with other online service providers, other technology providers, with law enforcement. >> so what about that idea of actually having a physical office in various locations that someone has to come show an i.d.? we'll let law enforcement have the last word on that. this from the lapd. quote, i w

liz mcdougal joins me now. you for being with us. >> thank you for having me. >> you say this is not a site for prostitution, but any reading of these ads, i mean, can you really say with a straight face it's not a prostitution site? >> what i say is that is this a site where any illegal activity is unwelcome. child sexual exploitation and illegal prostitution. >> but it's full of ads for illegal activity. >> well, we actually have more than 85% of our content has nothing to do with the adult category. >> but that's where you make your money. >> no, we charge for a multitude of categories. this is one category where there is income. we are a business. we do make money. but keep in mind that we have 80% of our staff dedicated to policing and to cooperating with law enforcement to prevent cases of exploitation from ever making it live on the internet. so that we can facilitate rescues and so that we can cooperate with law enforcement to ensure convictions when there are those opportunities. >> but there are ads t

liz mcdougal joins me now.hank you for being with us. >> thank you for having me. >> you say this is not a site for prostitution, but any reading of these ads, i mean, can you really say with a straight face it's not a prostitution site? >> what i say is that is this a site where any illegal activity is unwelcome. human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and illegal prostitution. >> but it's full of ads for illegal activity. >> well, we actually have more than 85% of our content has nothing to do with the adult category. >> but that's where you make your money. >> no, we charge for a multitude of categories. this is one category where there is income. we are a business. we do make money. but keep in mind that we have 80% of our staff dedicated to policing and to cooperating with law enforcement to prevent cases of exploitation from ever making it live on the internet. so that we can facilitate rescues and so that we can cooperate with law enforcement to ensure convictions when there are those opportunities.

. >> reporter: attorney liz mcdougal is doing at backpage.com which she tried and arguably failed to do as a lawyer for the website craigslist.com, specifically try to convince people what's advertised in the adult section is legal, not only the services for sale, but the ages of girls selling it. it's not an easy job when prosecutors are demanding it be shut down. >> when we get a case involving the trafficking of prostitution, usually the story is going to start on backpage.com. >> the daughter i know is a kid that likes to color. >> reporter: for dawn, that's exactly where the story took her 15-year-old girl. a child who apparently ran away with a man who seduced her online. within days that man had posted pictures of the child on backpage.com. selling the girl into prostitution. allegations detailed in a criminal complaint. >> he officially took her and beat her into submission to raping her, and then held her into prostitution. it totally, totally crushed me to know that somebody actually did this to her. >> reporter: the accused pimp in that case has pleaded not guilty pending

. >> reporter: as backpage.com's lawyer liz mcdougal has a tough job trying to convince people what isrtised is legal. tough, too, because prosecutors nationwide are demanding backpage shut down what they call a hub for the sex trade. >> when we get a case involving the trafficking of prostitution, usually the story is going to start on backpage.com. >> the daughter i know is a kid that likes to color. >> reporter: for dawn that's exactly where the story took her 15-year-old girl, a child who apparently ran away with a man who seduced her online. within days that man had posted pictures of the child on backpage.com selling the girl into prostitution. allegations detailed in a criminal complaint. >> he officially took her and beat her into submission to raping her and then held her into prostitution. it totally, totally crushed me to know that somebody actually did this to her. >> reporter: the accused pimp in that case has pleaded not guilty pending trial. it's one of more than 50 cases in 22 states of people charged with advertising underaged girls for sex on backpage.com. the classif