There is a common perception that a nondescript van is canvassing neighborhoods snatching trafficking victims in plain sight. While this does happen, the reality for most victims is that a trafficker is canvasing the internet for potential prey using a keyboard, not a van.
Recently, the Human Trafficking Institute released the 2020 Federal Human Trafficking Report with alarming metrics. The report stated over 41 percent of victim recruitment came from the internet, with 59 percent from Facebook alone. Yes, from Facebook, not from a dark corner of the web but right in front of our eyes on one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.
