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Discouraging the Demand That Fosters Sex Trafficking: Collaboration through Augmented Intelligence

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  • Marcel Van der Watt

    (National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Washington, DC 20004, USA)

Abstract

Augmented intelligence—as the fusion of human and artificial intelligence—is effectively being employed in response to a spectrum of risks and crimes that stem from the online sexual exploitation marketplace. As part of a study that was sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has documented 15 tactics that have been used in more than 2650 US cities and counties to deter sex buyers from engaging with prostitution and sex trafficking systems. One of these tactics, technology-based enforcement and deterrence methods, has been used in more than 78 locations in the United States. This paper explores the issue of technology-facilitated trafficking in the online sexual exploitation marketplace and juxtaposes this with the use of augmented intelligence in collaborative responses to these crimes. Illustrative case studies are presented that describe how two organizations employ technology that utilizes the complementary strengths of humans and machines to deter sex buyers at the point of purchase. The human(e) touch of these organizations, combined with artificial intelligence, natural language processing, constructed websites, photos, and mobile technology, show significant potential for operational scaling, and provide a template for consideration by law enforcement agencies, criminal justice systems, and the larger multidisciplinary counter-trafficking community for collaborative replication in other settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcel Van der Watt, 2023. "Discouraging the Demand That Fosters Sex Trafficking: Collaboration through Augmented Intelligence," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:94-:d:1115333
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Annie Miller & Julie Laser & Annjanette Alejano-Steele & Kara Napolitano & Nevita George & Natcha Connot & Amanda Finger, 2023. "Lessons Learned from the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Sunny Jiao & Vicky Bungay & Emily Jenkins, 2021. "Information and Communication Technologies in Commercial Sex Work: A Double-Edged Sword for Occupational Health and Safety," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Robles Carrillo, Margarita, 2020. "Artificial intelligence: From ethics to law," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6).
    4. Jennifer Paul Ray, 2023. "Conceptualizing Task Force Sustainability," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Black, Justin & Kurra, Goutham & Knudsen, Eric, 2021. "Augmented intelligence: The new world of surveys at work," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 451-459, September.
    6. Tonisha Jones, 2023. "Perceptions of the Benefits and Barriers to Anti-Human Trafficking Interagency Collaboration: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Study," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kirsten Foot & Marcel Van der Watt & Elizabeth Shun-Ching Parks, 2023. "Special Issue “Frontiers in Organizing Processes: Collaborating against Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery for Impact and Sustainability”," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-3, April.

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