In our daily lives, sex trafficking is mostly out of sight and out of mind. While we go about our lives, millions of people are being exploited and held against their will for profit. Human trafficking is so horrible that it’s hard to believe it is still a huge problem ”but it is.
Fighting sex trafficking isn’t easy. Lots of people who are taken for modern enslavement fly under the radar and can’t be easily identified or are terrified to seek help. To effectively fight sex trafficking and free victims, we need all the tools we can get ”including blockchain technology.
Sex Trafficking is a Global Issue
Lots of people are surprised by the sheer numbers involved with sex trafficking. Globally, millions of people, mostly women and girls, are trafficked every year. Although the numbers in the United States are lower than in many other countries, thousands of cases of possible sex trafficking tips are called in every year. Undoubtedly, many more go unreported.
Victims are often lured into a sex trafficking ring with promises of jobs, relationships, housing, education, and other incentives. Once they are within the power of the traffickers, they are coerced, threatened, or manipulated into sexual exploitation for profit. Victims may be forced to participate in pornography, act as escorts, or perform sexual acts for money.
Blockchain technology, which was originally developed to create a secure system for trading the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, is now becoming an important tool in fighting sex trafficking. To fight modern slavery all over the world, we need this system for collaboration and verification.
How Blockchain Technology is Helping to Investigate Sex Trafficking Crimes
Blockchain is a decentralized, encrypted ledger system that doesn’t rely on one single storage location. Every change is documented in the blockchain, making it much more secure and difficult to hack. But what does this mean for investigating sex trafficking crimes?
There are several ways blockchain is helping at all stages of the process. First, biometric information can be used in identifying victims of sex trafficking. Forensic nurses and other experienced medical personnel should be trained to notice the risk factors of trafficking and to identify victims should they end up in the hospital.
In addition to victim identification, however, blockchain technology can be used to track the money that exchanges hands in human trafficking cases. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being used by many criminals to avoid detection, but investigators can use advanced tools and investigative methods to determine the source of specific digital wallets and track down trafficking leads.
Blockchain to Improve Victim Anonymity
Traffickers often use threats and coercion to keep their victims under their control. They might threaten to bring family or friends into sexual exploitation or tell the victim that they will harm or kill them if they try to get away. For this reason, even victims who have escaped trafficking situations are often fearful for their personal safety.
Anonymity is important in cases of sex trafficking. Because of the danger and stigma involved with these cases, it’s important for victims to have identity protection. Blockchain can help to create a digital identity that is secure and unable to be forged. This can make a big difference in not only positively identifying victims and helping them to escape, but for maintaining their privacy and anonymity.
How to Help Sex Trafficking Victims
Blockchain developers all over the world are helping to end human trafficking with different digital solutions. But even if you don’t have the technical skills to lend a hand in creating secure networks to help victims, there’s still a lot you can do to help trafficking victims all over the world.
One of the most important steps you can take is to educate yourself on how to identify potential trafficking victims. If you suspect that someone is being sexually exploited, you can reach out to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (1-888-373-7888) or call 911 so that someone who is trained to respond to these cases can help.
You can also help by volunteering, talking about the issue with your representatives, and spread awareness. Regardless of your skills and situation, there is something you can do to help end the horrifying trade of sex trafficking. Victims need our help ”let’s take action.
