The Traffik Analysis Hub, a secure data and information sharing platform, has been established by a coalition of law enforcement, nonprofit, academic and private sectors, including technology, telecommunications and financial institutions.
Information about human trafficking has continued to grow as more people in more sectors of society have become aware of modern slavery, including human trafficking. However, information is often held separately and information sharing between organizations can be challenging, much less across sectors.
The Traffik Analysis Hub utilizes search terms and information from contributors as well as open sources of data and analyzes information such as exploitation type, demographics and means of recruitment and transportation. The Hub will facilitate data and information sharing between law enforcement, NGOs and financial institutions which will help identify trafficking networks, trends and hotspots. [1]
Fortune reports:
“The data hub is a crucial development in the fight against human trafficking, and builds on IBM’s longstanding commitment to help combat the issue,” Guillermo Miranda, vice president of IBM corporate citizenship, said in a statement. “By STOP THE TRAFFIK bringing together leaders across multiple sectors, from financial institutions to academia, and applying IBM’s AI and cloud-based technologies, we can facilitate collaboration and problem solving at scale to help solve this severe global issue.”
With improved data on trafficking trends and hotspots, STOP THE TRAFFIK hopes to better implement awareness programs to stop human trafficking. And since the Hub uses machine learning, it will become more accurate over time, potentially developing the ability to predict cases of human trafficking.
The Hub, the result of collaboration between IBM, Stop the Traffik, Western Union, Barclays, Lloyd’s Banking Group, Liberty Global, Europol and University College London also demonstrates the potential and necessity of a multi-sector approach in addressing human trafficking.
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-stop-the-traffik-western-union-barclays-lloyds-banking-group-liberty-global-europol-and-university-college-london-unveil-international-data-hub-to-combat-human-trafficking-300733485.html
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