The Internet's Role in Human Trafficking

categories: internet, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution, Technology and the Media, Trafficking in Children, Trafficking in Women

Published September 20, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT

Here's a pop quiz for you. Is the Internet a.) A series of tubes invented by Al Gore b.) an evil system of perversions with no redeeming qualities c.) one of the greatest facilitators of human trafficking in commercial sex markets or d.) all of the above? If you chose c.), you're right! If you chose d.), perhaps you might want to do a little background reading. The Internet is a tool, and like all tools it can be used for good or bad. And right now, the Internet is one of the largest facilitators of sex trafficking in the world.

Here are some common Internet technologies and how they are used to facilitate human trafficking in commercial sex:

Craigslist.org: Used to sell child and adult trafficking victims for commercial sex. You may have noticed I've got about as much love for the adult services section of Craigslist as Taylor Swift's mom has for Kanye right now, but that's because they are a huge facilitator of illegal prostitution and the sale of children for sex all over the word.

Online photo sharing: Allows for mass dissemination of child pornography without having to worry about being caught by the nosy developer or mail carrier. Online picture catalogues help buyers choose a girl as an "escort" or sometimes even as a wife. Online ordering of women has revolutionized how some traffickers do business.

Mobile upload technology: Like photo sharing technology, mobile upload technology allows pimps and traffickers to conduct business on the road, sharing pictures and videos with perspective clients and making sure the girls they exploit are available 24/7.

Social networking sites: Allow people interested in exploiting women and children to connect with each other and with potential victims. Traffickers use social media to connect with both buyers and victims, and in some cases to connect them directly to each other.

Vast availability of porn websites: Pimps who sell children often use legal, adult pornography as a grooming technique. And I'm sure it's a huge surprise that they have no problem finding plenty of it all over the Internet.

E-Commerce tools: Used to conduct the financial transactions of child pornography and of victims of human trafficking. Think someone would never charge sex with a child to their credit card via a website? Think again.

Encryption technology: Enables transactions, information trails, and conversations to be difficult to impossible to detect by law enforcement.

Fortunately, law enforcement agents have access to these same technologies and are using them in sting operations and to identify and prosecute pimps and traffickers. However, too often the criminals are several technological steps ahead. They see the exploitative potential of emerging technolgies before we do, a dynamic that must change. Because, while these tools revolutionized the business of exploitation once, it won't be long until something new comes out and does it again. And this time, we want to good guys to be the tech-saavy ones.

Photo credit: dalbera

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Comments (6)

If there ever was the illusion of a notion of "fair trade" prostitution, I'm sure this isn't it.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 09/20/2009 @ 06:44PM PT
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There's more than a little bit of irony that you are writing about this in a blog post, and that I read about it through my RSS reader. There are some really good things happening to fight human trafficking via the internet and this site is a good example. Thanks for being one of the good guys!

Posted by John March on 09/21/2009 @ 07:23AM PT
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Indeed...

Any tool can be used for good or evil and we must strive to elliminate the evil use of the internet.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/23/2009 @ 08:16PM PT
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First of all, thank you for bringing to the forefront the role that the Internet plays in human trafficking. Craigslist, online photo sharing, mobile technology, social network groups and chat rooms are simply "the tip of the trafficking network." Your insightful breakdown of how Internet technologies are used to facilitate human trafficking sheds light on the importance of being aware of how technology is actually used to victimize men, women and children not just in our own backyards-but globally. What began almost two decades ago as a means of exchanging child pornography over the internet has now evolved into a complex web and global community that has managed to use technology to further advance their interests from the virtual world into the real world. Having worked overseas for over a decade reorganizing manufacturing facilities, I have had the opportunity to witness first-hand the unspeakable impact and cruel consequences of human trafficking. Regardless of the country, the common denominators were extreme poverty and desperation. With conviction, I have returned to school to pursue a law degree to help prevent and combat this epidemic.

After reading your blog, I am interested in hearing what you think of the roles that governments play in facilitating, and sometimes even encouraging this behavior for financial gains once it enters their jurisdiction. Although publically, no state would openly advocate human trafficking; behind closed doors, however, is a very different story. As I examined your blog, I also noticed that you mentioned the "good guys" needing to be more tech-savvy in order to be one step ahead of organized crime and individuals who engage in these illegal activities. However, according to UNICEF, an estimated $9.5 billion is generated annually from trafficking activities-that we know of. From my experience, I have found governments (especially those overseas) to be very uncooperative and indifferent to the problem since many consider sex trafficking to be another form of prostitution. In your opinion, what are the most effective approaches to combating human trafficking in a way that will lay the foundation to long-term improvements? Or do we have to rely on private, non-profits to get the job done?

Posted by T Tran on 09/23/2009 @ 11:28PM PT
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Dear Craig and Crew of Craigslist,

If I were a prostitute, I would LOVE Craigslist.

What a GREAT way to get business. Yesssss. Some nice pics, filthy ones with lots of promise and YAY - money for me.

If I was a PIMP, I would ALSO LOVE Craigslist.

Dang - I could put my girls ALL OVER the place - especially the nice fresh young ones and then substitute the old used up ones who I can have go knocking on doors or whatever in the dead of night.

(If you don't like what I'm saying the WAY I'm saying it, remember I'm a supposed PIMP for GOSH sakes)

HEY - Craigslist is PERFECT for pimping and pandering AND Craigslist can always SCREAM freedom of expression to help ME get my advertising OUT!!!

HOHHHHH yeah. Good for me, good for my girls. And boys. Tons of money, and Craigslist makes money too. MONEY money money - all good.

As a pimp, would I pay taxes? ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME???

COURSE I would. C'mon!

WOULD I USE underage GIRLS??? WHat do you think I am - STUPID????

If underage girls are stupid enough to say YES, or willing to take drugs, or even unwilling, and they're runaways to boot, HEY!

I'm a BUSINESS PERSON if I'm a PIMP. Craigslist is my Whoring Sales Tool of Choice.

Thanks Craigslist. We loves ya.

~~~

Don't you LOVE this freedom of speech thang? A PERFECT tool to exploit runaways, damaged women, boys, girls, whatever.

THANK YOU CRAIGSLIST from every prostitute, lady of the evening, erotic services providers, runaway in desperate need of food or affection, and every OTHER enterprising SEX worker in the world.

THANKS TO YOU, my industry is BOOMING and you're doing GOOOOOOD STUFF for MY WORLD.

Kaching, kaching!

Love and Kisses for a buck or two or more,

An Imagining Pimp and Whatever

NOTE: If you take the above seriously, then please forget you ever saw it and delete it from your memory. PLEASE.

~~~

Upon further thought, here's something for me to worry about if I were a Pimp - Craigslist MIGHT be a way for COPS to find me REAL easy... hmmm.....

!!!

~~~

Posted by Cdin Org on 10/03/2009 @ 10:31AM PT
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Mr. org...

I enjoyed your use of sarcasm and I agree that we shouldnt have freedom of speech or any freedom for that matter...Without responsability.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/04/2009 @ 07:43PM PT
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Author

Amanda has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. During that time, she has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world.