HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TECHNOLOGY

Human trafficking is a global crime that involves the exploitation of individuals for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. It is a multi-billion dollar industry and a significant violation of human rights. While human trafficking has been around for centuries, modern technology has made it easier for traffickers to operate and for victims to be trafficked.Research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited via social media and online dating platforms where personal information and details of people’s locations are readily available.Sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation are taking place virtually and photos and videos sold further on different platforms to customers worldwide, resulting in even more money for the traffickers at no additional cost.One way in which technology has facilitated human trafficking is through the internet. Traffickers use social media and other online platforms to recruit victims and advertise their services. They may create fake profiles and pose as someone else to lure vulnerable individuals into trafficking situations. They may also use encrypted messaging apps to communicate with each other and with victims, making it more difficult for law enforcement to track their activities.In addition to recruitment, technology is also used to control and exploit victims. Traffickers may use tracking devices to monitor the movements of victims or use social media to threaten or blackmail them. They may also use virtual private networks (VPNs) to hide their identities and evade detecion by law enforcement.However, technology is not only facilitating human trafficking but also playing a role in combating it. Law enforcement agencies around the world are using technology to track down traffickers, identify victims, and disrupt trafficking networks. They may use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns that can lead to the discovery of trafficking operations. They may also use blockchain technology to trace financial transactions and disrupt the funding of trafficking networks.Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also using technology to combat human trafficking. For example, the Polaris Project, a U.S.-based NGO, has created a hotline that victims of human trafficking can call or text for help. The organization uses data analytics to identify patterns of trafficking and to provide support to victims. The hotline has received more than 100,000 calls since it was launched in 2007.Another example of the use of technology to combat human trafficking is the TraffickCam app. The app allows users to take photos of their hotel rooms and upload them to a database. Law enforcement agencies can use the database to match photos of trafficking victims in hotel rooms with the photos uploaded by users of the app. This can help identify the location of trafficking operations and lead to the rescue of victims.Overall, technology is playing a dual role in human trafficking. It is facilitating the crime, but it is also being used to combat it. One of the panellists at the Working Group, Alexandra Gelber, the Deputy Chief for Policy and Legislation at the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, highlighted the links between trafficking and online technology in her country. “Data shows that in the United States approximately 40% of sex trafficking victims are recruited online, making the Internet the most common place where victim recruitment takes place,” she says.   “For over a decade, online advertising has been the main tactic used by traffickers to solicit buyers for commercial sex. In 2020, over 80% of the U.S. Department of Justice’s sex trafficking prosecutions involved online advertising.”Ms. Gelber adds that technology is also being used to commit “virtual child sex trafficking” which takes place when an offender in the United States sends a digital payment to a trafficker in another country.“The trafficker will then sexually abuse a child in front of a web camera, while the offender in the United States watches a livestream of the abuse.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided further opportunities for traffickers due to the increased use of the Internet, in particular social networks and online video gaming sites.As technology continues to advance, it is likely that both traffickers and law enforcement agencies will continue to use it to further their respective goals. It is therefore important that law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and governments around the world continue to invest in the development of new technologies that can be used to combat human trafficking and protect victims. Additionally, awareness campaigns are important to educate individuals on the signs of human trafficking and to encourage them to report any suspected incidents. Only through a multi-pronged approach that combines technological innovation, policy development, and community engagement can we hope to eradicate human trafficking once and for all.