Human trafficking is a global epidemic. There are an estimated 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally. Out of these, 68% are trapped in forced labor, 26% are children, and 55% are women and girls. This is a $150 billion industry!
Most people think human trafficking only happens in 3rd world countries, but it actually is happening in all 50 states! Hawaii has one of the worst problems with human trafficking. Forced labor is disguised with people working in the backs of restaurants, massage parlors, nail salons, strip clubs, and more. So how can technology help with any of this? Well some companies have already started; Polaris created a Trafficking Hotline that receives an average of 100 calls a day.
While a hotline is great, many victims do not have access to phones to call and get help. There are actually a lot of ads on websites like craigslist and backpage that advertise "escorts" who are often sex slaves. Many of these are children. It would be great to create technology that could find these ads, trace them back to the perpetrators/pimps and hold them accountable.
It would also be beneficial to create hotlines, apps, and other forms of technology for neighbors to use if they suspect people in their neighborhood are victims. We also need technology to be able to vet more fake documents like fake passports that many pimps use to transport their victims.
Creating or properly using this technology to aid in human trafficking can hopefully expose traffickers and save victims. Our technological growth has provided traffickers with more opportunities to recruit and expose victims. Keeping up with this growth and finding ways to block traffickers is one of the best things we can do to help trafficked individuals.
