Cyber slavery survivors now trapped in Thai camps

Thousands of modern slavery victims were recently freed from scam compounds on the Thai-Myanmar border, thanks to increased efforts by the Thai government. Authorities are also trying to shut down the compounds by cutting off their internet access, essential for scam operations. But according to the BBC, these efforts are stalling due to overcrowded, unsanitary survivor camps. Meanwhile, a Wired Magazine investigation revealed easy access to Starlink keeps scams running despite shutdowns.

Out of the frying pan and into the fryer 

People from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are lured to the Thai-Myanmar border with promises of good jobs. Instead, they find themselves trapped in locked compounds, forced to run scams. In recent months, law enforcement freed over 7,000 victims in a crackdown. But many now languish in makeshift camps for weeks or months.

Judah Tana, who runs an NGO helping victims of trafficking in the scam centers, described the camps: 

 “We are hearing distressing information about the lack of sanitation and toilets. Many…were screened for TB and tested positive…(and some) are coughing up blood.”   

Conditions in the camps are reported as unsanitary. The food is barely sufficient, and, due to conditions at both the compounds and now the camp, many are in poor mental and physical health. In most cases, the traffickers take away all passports. Thus, with no travel documents and no money, survivors are left at the mercy of the Thai government. Camps are now so overcrowded that militia groups have stopped rescuing victims—there’s no room left.

It’s business as usual for scam compounds thanks to Starlink 

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is cutting internet access to disrupt scam compounds. No internet, no scams. But Elon Musk’s Starlink is keeping them online

Naripthaphan, from Thailand’s NBTC regulator said: 

“They start using [Starlink] when the mobile operators start shutting down the services across the border and we start arresting all the broadband fiber connectivities…we see that increase in Starlink users when those services are being blocked.”  

Since early 2025, Thailand has cut internet connections, electricity and fuel supplies to areas around compounds. But Starlink has kept operations running.

Mechelle B Moore, the CEO of anti-trafficking nonprofit Global Alms Incorporated, says she has yet to hear of any scam companies shutting down due to loss of access to the internet. Instead, survivors report that when the internet goes out, they just switch to Starlink.

Well begun, but not close to done 

While Freedom United welcomes the uptick in efforts by the Thai government, it is clear more needs to be done. Starlink must coordinate internet shutdowns in partnership with the Thai government. Further, better systems need to be in place to help survivors get out of camps and back to their lives.  

One survivor said they and others in the camp feared that if they didn’t get to leave soon, guards might just hand them back to their scam bosses. If that happened, survivors could find themselves back in modern slavery and face the repercussions of trying to escape.