| Human trafficking is a crime that strips the dignity from everyone that is unlucky enough to be involved. Thousands of people are trafficked each year in the United States. Though several organizations report a steady increase in the number of people trafficked yearly, it is difficult to calculate an accurate number of those affected due to the secretive nature of the crime. Traffickers have become experts at recruiting and advertising victims online using social media, websites, and the deep web. The increased use of the Internet and social media has forced law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to step outside the box and develop software to track traffickers and victims. This paper will explore the relationship that technology has with traffickers, law enforcement agencies, and NGOs. It will detail the tools and tactics traffickers employ to stalk, recruit, track, and sell their victims. Additionally, it will discuss the tools available to law enforcement and NGOs to assist with the search and rescue of victims, as well as the prosecution of traffickers. |
