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Accurately understanding the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings (THB) is a persisting challenge with serious consequences on the capacity of criminal and social justice systems to counter it. In part, this is due to the inherent complexity of the crime, comprising a series of offences and manifesting itself in various forms exploitation and modus operandi. At the same time, the resistanceand ability of organised crime groups (OCGs) to adapt to external environmental changes presents an additional challenge for all actors contributing to the prevention and countering of THB.
In the past two years, three factors have driven change in the modi operandi of traffickers, further complicating the collection of reliable data and thus the ability to provide targeted response mechanisms. The first of these is the increasing digitization of the trafficking chain, from the recruitment of victims and advertisement of trafficked services to exploitation itself and movement of the proceeds. The second is the Covid-19 pandemic, which worsened socio-economic vulnerability, expedited digitalization, and changed the geography and forms of exploitation. The final factor is the mass displacement and subsequent humanitarian challenges resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has left millions-in precarious economic situations and more vulnerable to taking risks for the promise of housing, employment, and stability. When preventing, investigating and prosecuting for THB, as well as when offering assistance and protection to its victims, it is fundamental that these particular vulnerabilities, be they due to sex, age, nationality, socio-economic status or any intersection of these and other factors, are taken adequately into account. Similarly, it is essential that external factors that affect the business models of traffickers are consistently monitored and responded, with particular reference to the digitalization of the trafficking chain.
This project is funded by the European Union.
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In the INTERCEPTED project the IPoS, together with the partners, will focus on two points of interception of the trafficking chain: recruitment and advertisement, consistently considering the ways in which methods differ in terms of language, platforms, targets, and strategies, according to the type of exploitation and profiles of the victims. INTERCEPTED focuses on disrupting the digital business models of traffickers, considering how evidence and strategies identified in the cyberspace can be used in concrete investigative, prevention, and protective measures in the physical world. It is aiming to strengthen the digital capabilities of law enforcement and judicial authorities in the framework of public-private cooperation, through a better and unbiased understanding of the phenomenon, an enhanced capacity to stay on-top of online trends from a technological and a policing perspective, and new tools for the detection and responses of recruitment forand advertisement of trafficked services online, fully exploiting the potentiality of the OSINT-HUMINT-SIGINT cycle.
INTERCEPTED will elicit key trends in online recruitment and advertisement for THB; design, develop and pilot customised investigative technologies for THB and develop all necessary training.
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Institute of Police and Security Research – IPoS
Doventorscontrescarpe 172 C
28195 Bremen
Germany
