Sadly, human trafficking continues to be a pervasive form of exploitation in India and across the world. It feeds off social issues such as poverty, urban-rural divide, gender inequality and disproportionately impacts women, children, and migrant workers. While thousands of cases of trafficking are recorded annually by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in India, it is believed that these represent only a fraction of the problem, with a large number going unreported.
With victims reluctant to come forward and report for fear of reprisals, historically weak identity systems, indeed multiple simultaneous identities, hiding both the victim as well as the perpetrator, financial transactions that do not trigger detection alarms, curtailing trafficking has been an onerous task for authorities.
But things are changing. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Identity Verification systems are making identification, of crimes as well as victims and perpetrators, easier.
Aadhaar – India’s unique identification system
The Aadhaar identity platform is the largest program of its kind in the world wherein every resident of the country is provided with a unique identity.
It is unique and robust enough to eliminate duplicates and fake identities.
Though not meant as a trafficking prevention tool, its indirect impact on trafficking has been meaningful. In its Identification for Development (ID4D) reports, the World Bank notes that robust digital ID systems reduce fraud and improve traceability in financial and service ecosystems and protect the rights of individuals.
By making it harder, and more expensive, for traffickers to operate under false identities for themselves as well as their victims, Aadhaar strikes at the core safety nets of the crime, the ability to go undetected. In addition, with its reliance on biometrics, it provides the ability to authorities to trace individuals across states, sectors, and systems.
No more stolen or fake identities and documents. No longer multiple aliases. Even SIM Cards are linked to a unique identity. Perpetrators of the crime can no longer hide behind a fake identity which does not lead to a real person.
Artificial Intelligence
Human trafficking thrives on anonymity, forged identities, and weak verification systems. Modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly disrupt trafficking networks by detecting suspicious patterns, verifying identities, and strengthening monitoring.
Trafficking networks increasingly operate through digital platforms, financial systems, and global travel networks. As these systems generate large volumes of data, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital identity verification technologies are emerging as important tools for identifying victims and perpetrators, detecting trafficking patterns, and disrupting criminal networks.
Detecting Patterns
Humans are great at intuitive decision-making but not as good at objectively parsing large volumes of data. AI steps in to fill the gap. Using natural language processing and pattern recognition, trained AI systems can monitor online interactions, messages, or transactions and flag suspicious activity related to trafficking networks.
IDTraffickers: An Authorship Attribution Dataset to link and connect Potential Human-Trafficking Operations on Text Escort Advertisements, a Cornell University paper, operating on the initial findings of a number of HT cases being associated with online advertisements (ads), particularly in escort markets, introduced IDTraffickers, an extensive dataset consisting of 87,595 text ads and 5,244 vendor labels to enable the verification and identification of potential HT vendors on online escort markets. This, they believe, will empower future researchers and facilitate the effective linkage of escort ads…for identifying HT indicators.
Victim identification
Human trafficking increasingly occurs through online platforms, where victims may be advertised in escort listings or recruited through social media. Victims are also moved frequently to break patterns that could be detected.
AI systems can analyze these digital environments to identify potential victims. Spotlight by Canary is one such tool. It turns a massive amount of data into an actionable intelligence for law enforcement to identify children being exploited online, faster. The rapidly developing capability of AI systems to analyze photos and videos to match faces has a key role to play.
Suspect identification
In a similar manner, AI tools can analyze social media and other online platforms for suspect activity. It can also aid in cross-state and cross-border investigations and activities designed to throw authorities off the scent, such as frequent movement across borders.
Caution advised in usage
In an article titled Combatting Human Trafficking: How AI Revolutionizes the Fight, Human Trafficking Search (HTS), a free global database run by Freedom United that seeks to create a world free of modern slavery and human trafficking, advises caution in AI usage:
While information sharing is vital for effective intervention, it must be balanced with respect for privacy rights…Safeguarding sensitive data is crucial to protect the identity and confidentiality of victims, witnesses, and informants.
AI algorithms can perpetuate existing biases, leading to unfair targeting or profiling of certain individuals or groups. To address these concerns, transparency in the development and deployment of AI systems is crucial.
It advocates setting a framework for transparency and accountability in AI systems.
Misuse potential
It must be remembered that technology, despite its application for good, is equally available too criminals and hence prone to being misused. We must be conscious of the possibility of misuse and keep working on safeguards to prevent it and act against it.
The money trail
Pattern recognition covers ecosystems that interact with trafficking, such as banking and financial. Financial gain is one of the underlying reasons for many crimes, trafficking included. According to an ILO Report, annual profits from forced labour amount to US$ 236 billion. Naturally, a lot of money flows through the banking system that can be traced to trafficking. Cash transactions, informal payment channels, high-frequency movement across accounts and small-value transfers have been the preferred methods of money movement for criminals to evade detection.
Establishing genuine identity systems and bringing in AI solutions to detect patterns in money movement, helping convert invisible money into traceable money is helping curb the flow of money in the trafficking networks and nabbing the culprits.
Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence technologies and Digital Identification Systems often work hand-in-hand to counter human trafficking. Much of this is made possible by the Natural Language Processing ability of AI tools, which was beyond the pale of traditional code-based software, which makes it possible to process images and videos, and the ability to identify patterns. It makes for a winning combination, supported by its ability to process large volumes of data, which technology has always possessed.