Using Technology to Combat Human Trafficking

 Using Technology to Combat Human Trafficking

Jennifer Barnard

Wilmington University

Abstract 

When it comes to human trafficking, there are several practitioners involved with combating this heinous crime. Most often, practitioners are thought of as law enforcement, lawyers, government officials, and advocates; however, human trafficking is happening more online. Often data analysis is overlooked as practitioners. However, those with a passion for fighting human trafficking are just as vital as other practitioners. This article discusses what a Human trafficking data analysis does, the challenges they face, and the skills they need to do this job. Though they are not directly in contact with the victims, they play a vital role in combating human trafficking.

    Human trafficking is a global problem that takes a variety of practitioners to combat. When thinking of those who combat human trafficking, one thinks of law enforcement, advocacies, and the government. All of these people are essential in the fight against human trafficking. There seemingly is a forgotten role, one that remains behind the scenes battling crime behind their computer screens. One that has a significant influence despite the fact they never come in contact with a victim. These people are known as Data analysis, specifically data analysis, with the focus on human trafficking. They use a digital footprint and digital evidence to locate traffickers and report them to the authorities, ultimately rescuing victims.

Technology has become part of culture practically worldwide. Having social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has allowed people worldwide to stay in contact with a click of a mouse and a stroke of a key. However, this technology comes with danger. Just as people use the internet to network, so do the criminals. They use the internet to sell weapons, drugs, and people. The sale of humans and their organs can be made on the Clearnet (basic internet) or on something called the dark web (below the surface internet, which needs a unique browser) (Swingler, 2015). The people who can combat this level of crime specialize in information technology and cybersecurity; they are known as data analysis.

    Several advocacies specialize in combatting human trafficking from an online perspective. Thorn is a advocacy with a special technology task force that goes after human traffickers that target children. Ashton Kutcher is the co-founder (Thorn, 2020). Thorn’s director, Clair Schmidt, best describes what the role of a data analysis does. “ Analytics and technology can be purposed to combat child sex trafficking, utilizing existing data to determine indicators of trafficking victims within online environments and helping to route that information to authorities and organizations who are best able to intervene” (SumAll, 2013).         Thorn has come out with a software program “Safer” that several law enforcement agencies have used through computer engineering and Data Analysis knowledge. Safer is credited with detecting 100,000 child sexual abuse images on several different platforms (Solon, 2020). Other organizations utilize data analyses such as DARPA and Global Emancipation Network, for example (Chua, 2017, & Pellerin, 2017).

    Data analysis must have substantial knowledge of computers and data. Some of the basic knowledge required are a proficient understanding of SQL (Structured Query language, Microsoft excel, python (or other programming languages), Data visualization, presentation skills, knowledge of artificial intelligence, Data Mining, and predictive analysis (Master’s in data science, 2020, & O’Connor, 2020). These skills help the data analysis use computer data to track and predict what the trafficker is planning and what route they will take. Additionally, it is essential for a data analysis specializing in human trafficking to have significant knowledge of human behavior and human trafficking. 

         Because much trafficking is done, online analytics practitioners can identify victims and perpetrators by following virtual footsteps that the criminal has left behind. Additionally, machine learning (or artificial intelligence) is used to predict the perpetrator's next step, such as routes and locations of the trafficking. Furthermore, an analysis can determine which perpetrator is leading the trafficking ring and potentially identify the victim through social media or digital evidence left behind (Konrad, R., Trapp, A. C., & Maass, K. L., n.d.).

    When dealing with organ harvesting, depending on the area, criminals often communicate through the internet using encryption or hiding messages in mp3 (Steganography) or pictures known as invisible secrets. This is usually done through social media accounts, or sometimes overseas, a flash drive is used. The perpetrator hides the message in a picture on the Flash drive (Easttom, 2019). By having a data analyst on board, law enforcement can track and hopefully catch the people involved in human trafficking.

Data analysts do not only communicate with law enforcement, but they are also involved with a variety of practitioners. In addition to law enforcement, they work with human trafficking advocacies, government agencies such as the FBI, private sectors, and academia (Bain, 2017). A data analyst can help identify areas of trafficking risk or be used to identify safe locations for housing (Bain, 2017). They are essentially the eyes and ears of the internet, finding information that would otherwise be hidden and delivering it to those who can utilize it.

    Though being able to analyze information on the computer to help victims of human trafficking is essential, some hardships come with this career. For example, human trafficking is a global problem. Often, the victim is trafficked in several destinations due to these laws (locally and internationally may be affected). Governments may be less willing to share information and be less cooperative (Bain, 2017). Additionally, some parts of the world lack technology, so in places such as Eritrea where the area is stricken by poverty, the odds of tracing organ harvesting are lower unless the leader is in a country such as Turkey. With that being said, it is not uncommon for hospitals in bigger cities to be involved with human trafficking (Jaftar, 2009), allowing a data analyst to track the leader of the trafficking ring possibly. Also, even if the organ harvesting happened in a rural area without the internet, organs are often transported to a different country, which would allow the data analyst to gather information from the location the organ was transported too (Bain, Mari, & Delmonico, 2018).

    Having cyber warriors behind the keyboard allows the vulnerable to be reached in places that otherwise would be helpless. The data analysis may never directly contact a human trafficking victim but plays a vital role in finding and dismembering rings with their computer ability skills. Though laws and cultural norms may make it difficult to gather information or intercept a ring, it will usually lead to a bigger city where the information is more accessible attainable. A data analyst may not be the typical practitioner for human trafficking; however, they are a practitioner and are equally as important.

References:

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