The dark web makes it simpler for traffickers to connect with customers and take advantage of victims, even though human trafficking is prohibited. Let’s explore this topic and discover how technology is used in human trafficking on the dark web.
About Human Trafficking
Modern slavery, another name for human trafficking, is an unpleasant fact of the world in the twenty-first century. Millions of men, women, and children are deprived of their essential rights to personal liberties and human self-respect, which is regarded as a human rights issue.
Around the world, this form of crime is regarded as the third most common. 4.8 million of the approximately 40.3 million victims of human trafficking today are victims of forced sexual exploitation. Millions lose their independence and sense of self, and they become vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
Additionally, people trafficking weakens law and international order while assisting terrorist organizations and criminal administrations. It has grown into a worldwide issue that finances organized crime, gangs, and corruption. The sex trade, prostitution, pornography, cafes, and bars, street gangs or the drug trade, service industries like tourism, healthcare, domestic slavery, textile manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, construction, diamond mines, and a despot’s army are all places where human trafficking occurs.
Human Trafficking on the Dark Web
Human trafficking has become darker and more computerized during the past ten years. Technology and globalization provide networks and opportunities for traffickers to recruit and take advantage of victims, which increases the structure of human trafficking. The availability of technology and the knowledge of almost total anonymity when using the internet have sparked worries about the frequency and detection capabilities of severe human trafficking networks. For instance, sex trafficking thrives on the Dark Web, much like the exploitation of children for pornographic purposes and the removal of organs.
Technology Use in Human Trafficking
According to a survey on dark web services, websites that sent child pornographic material accounted for 83% of hidden service solicitations. It even obscures the volume of inquiries for any other type of material on the Dark Web networks, including gaming, hiring a hitman, illegal substances, websites about bitcoin, and anonymous whistleblowing.
Computers and cell phones are used by sex traffickers in a variety of ways. For instance, contacting other criminals, promoting victims, and recruiting victims. Currently, Internet technologies such as websites, email, instant messaging, P2P file-sharing networks, and social networking sites may be used to access photos, recordings, and videos.
Additionally, offenders in other nations observe the victim do sexual actions in front of live streaming by paying online. While the clients make specific demands, the human trafficking organizer broadcasts live sexual activity or child abuse. Social media is often used by human traffickers to attract and deceive young teenagers into engaging in sex trafficking.
Types of Human Trafficking on the Dark Web
Human trafficking occurs in many different contexts and among a wide range of people in our society. Three primary categories of human trafficking have been discussed here.
1: Labor Trafficking
In essence, labor trafficking is a contemporary kind of slavery in which people perform work or provide services under duress, deception, or coercion. It covers situations including forced labor, debt slavery, and child labor that is not voluntary. Research indicates that migrant worker recruiting is particularly susceptible to labor trafficking. They entered labor trafficking through word-of-mouth, job fairs, billboards, and newspapers.
2: Sex Trafficking
Teenage prostitution or forced prostitution is a component of sex trafficking. Reports of sex trafficking in the United States indicate that victims are frequently assaulted in person after being sold online. Numerous websites that are accessible for human trafficking on the dark web are advertising hubs where buyers and sellers may communicate or close agreements.
3: Organ Trafficking
Illicit organ harvesting from live or deceased individuals, as well as the unlawful sale and transplantation of organs, are all considered forms of organ trafficking. The organ is separated and moved from the donor’s location to the recipient’s location in organ trafficking. This practice, which involves several organizations in a nation, is known as transplantation tourism. The illegal organ trafficking brings in between $840 million and $1 billion a year.
The group of actors includes organ trafficking and trafficking individuals to harvest organs. Recruiters, dealers, laboratory specialists, medical facility operators and staff, insurance companies, translators travel agencies, airlines and their employees, guards, drivers, service providers, law enforcement officials, and organ recipients (sometimes complicit and sometimes unaware of the illegality of the transplantation) are among them.
Final Thoughts
Illegal trade in human organs, slavery, and sex slavery in pornography and prostitution are all associated with human trafficking. But human trafficking has become darker and more computerized, and it is also being advanced by the dark web. Human trafficking on the dark web sites allows people, particularly children and teenagers, to be bought and sold.
