- There has been a surge of online human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse in recent years.
- Companies and organizations are teaming up to fight this with technology.
- Current technologies can reduce crimes but future technologies will be able to help prevent them.
With the digitalization of the trafficking industry, obstacles in investigation efforts are becoming even more severe. Easy communication, photo-editing tools, disposable “burner” phones, code words, slang, and reused content make it difficult for law enforcement officers to connect the dots. Fortunately, there are digital technologies now that can help combat trafficking on a grand scale. Numerous artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), computer generated imagery (CGI), and big data analysis tools have been developed or are already in use within the anti-trafficking space, bringing some much needed reinforcements in the fight against online trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.