Human Trafficking 2.0
Special counselling centres, the police, and other authorities are observing an increasing digitalization of human trafficking, which makes it even more difficult to track down criminal networks and apprehend the masterminds. In a recently published report, Human Trafficking 2.0 – The Digitalization of Human Trafficking in Germany, the Federal Coordination Group against Human Trafficking e.V. (hereafter KOK) has comprehensively outlined the structures and processes of digitalized human trafficking. Modern information and communication technologies play an important role in the recruitment of potential victims (which increasingly occurs via social media), in the smuggling into Europe, and in the control of the victims while they are exploited in Germany and other Western European countries. COVID-19 has further accelerated this development.
In its report, the KOK exposes the existing shortcomings: "There are hardly any technical capabilities to adequately respond to technological challenges regarding IT security and the digital modus operandi of human traffickers. Additionally, the practice of handling digital evidence, which is fraught with uncertainties, poses a significant hurdle for victims in terms of accessing their rights to protection from violence." (KOK, Human Trafficking 2.0, page 3).
Furthermore, the social workers from SOLWODI increasingly report that clients are being blackmailed with images of abuse related to their sexual exploitation. This mainly happens to women whose families in their home countries are unaware of their involvement in prostitution. Once these images make their way onto the internet, their distribution becomes almost impossible to control, and effective deletion is not possible.
On digital prostitution platforms, images and descriptions of women are frequently published without their consent, and they are shocked to discover the sexual acts being offered under their names. The internet profiles are managed by pimps and human traffickers without the women's knowledge. This can certainly be considered a form of digital identity theft.
Digitalized human trafficking is characterized by the perpetrators' ability to reach many people simultaneously and from any location. In this way it is no issue to chat with dozens of young girls on the internet in one evening to filter out potential victims. The perpetrators specifically target women who are particularly vulnerable due to their life circumstances and psychological condition. Using fake profiles, the perpetrators present themselves in an appealing and trustworthy manner, pretending to have a solid lifestyle. Through skilful emotional manipulation, they persuade young women to reveal many personal details about themselves, making them later able to be manipulated or blackmailed. They also coax the women into performing and filming sexual acts, which the perpetrators then sell on the internet. Gradually, the women are led into sexual exploitation.
Additionally, the perpetrator can remain completely safe in another country throughout the entire recruitment and exploitation process, issuing directives via smartphones. Specialized organizations often handle the transport of potential victims to Europe, receiving electronic instructions without ever knowing the perpetrator's real name or location. Payments for these services are also processed through digital systems.
KOK reports a case where Bulgarian women were recruited with false promises, received bus tickets and route information directly on their smartphones, and made their way to Germany without direct contact with the perpetrators. The women were forced into prostitution, with clients being acquired online. Appointments were communicated to the women by phone, and clients paid the perpetrators via PayPal, or the women had to transfer the money through Western Union. (KOK, Human Trafficking 2.0, page 23)
The perpetrators use digital tools, such as video cameras in the apartments or tracking apps on smartphones, to monitor the victims during exploitation. Often, the victims are helpless because they do not understand the language of the destination country, are unaware of available assistance, have no access to it, and are utterly unsettled by the extensive control of the perpetrators, who seem to know their every move. Most women do not even know that spyware is installed on their mobile phones.
Even after an exit, traffickers try to track down the victims through social media and exert pressure. They are particularly blackmailed with compromising photos and videos to prevent them from testifying in a criminal trial. The victims are usually overwhelmed by both such threats and the technologically driven exploitation situation with digital evidence collection.
Building competence among law enforcement, judiciary, and counselling centres, as well as better technical equipment to counter perpetrators with their own methods, is necessary to effectively combat the phenomenon of Human Trafficking 2.0.
