The other day, Europol announced a large-scale international operation to identify suspects in human trafficking and their victims. Last month, under the auspices of the EMPACT program, a hackathon was held in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn, which was attended by experts from 27 countries, including 19 EU states, as well as Albania, Brazil, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Led by police officers from Germany and the Netherlands, the investigation lasted four days. 76 specialists were engaged in collecting data on digital traces of human trafficking, including analysis of legitimate business structures, social networks, cryptocurrencies and gaming platforms.
During the operation, it was possible to check 252 objects, including platforms, users, locations and phone numbers. Particular attention was paid to 40 online platforms where sexual or labor exploitation, as well as organ trafficking, could take place. 16 suspected traffickers and 60 potential victims were identified.
One of the most shocking revelations was a shady platform where hundreds of criminals offered men and women for sale or rent. The cost of such services ranged from $800 to $2,000 per hour, and "home" boys and girls, whatever that meant, were sold for $20,000 to $60,000.
A new phenomenon was also identified - the so-called "digital pimping". Two online platforms offered special courses for men aspiring to become OnlyFans account managers. In fact, it was about training in the exploitation of women on the Internet.
Often, victims of such campaigns are forced to work as fraudsters in the digital space. For example, in December 2023, Interpol reported that Operation Storm Makers II led to the arrest of 281 people on charges of human trafficking, passport forgery, corruption, telecommunications fraud and sexual exploitation.
Many of the 149 identified victims were deceived by false ads on social media about high-paying jobs in Southeast Asia. Upon arrival, they were forced to work for online criminal gangs.
Such international hackathons, as well as joint law enforcement operations, play a key role in combating modern forms of human trafficking. Bringing together experts from different countries makes it possible to effectively identify and suppress the activities of criminal networks that use digital technologies to exploit vulnerable segments of the population.
Such cooperation not only helps to save victims, but also contributes to the development of new methods of countering cybercrime, adapting to the ever-changing tactics of attackers. Only together, the world community can hope to win this difficult struggle for human dignity and security.
Source
Led by police officers from Germany and the Netherlands, the investigation lasted four days. 76 specialists were engaged in collecting data on digital traces of human trafficking, including analysis of legitimate business structures, social networks, cryptocurrencies and gaming platforms.
During the operation, it was possible to check 252 objects, including platforms, users, locations and phone numbers. Particular attention was paid to 40 online platforms where sexual or labor exploitation, as well as organ trafficking, could take place. 16 suspected traffickers and 60 potential victims were identified.
One of the most shocking revelations was a shady platform where hundreds of criminals offered men and women for sale or rent. The cost of such services ranged from $800 to $2,000 per hour, and "home" boys and girls, whatever that meant, were sold for $20,000 to $60,000.
A new phenomenon was also identified - the so-called "digital pimping". Two online platforms offered special courses for men aspiring to become OnlyFans account managers. In fact, it was about training in the exploitation of women on the Internet.
Often, victims of such campaigns are forced to work as fraudsters in the digital space. For example, in December 2023, Interpol reported that Operation Storm Makers II led to the arrest of 281 people on charges of human trafficking, passport forgery, corruption, telecommunications fraud and sexual exploitation.
Many of the 149 identified victims were deceived by false ads on social media about high-paying jobs in Southeast Asia. Upon arrival, they were forced to work for online criminal gangs.
Such international hackathons, as well as joint law enforcement operations, play a key role in combating modern forms of human trafficking. Bringing together experts from different countries makes it possible to effectively identify and suppress the activities of criminal networks that use digital technologies to exploit vulnerable segments of the population.
Such cooperation not only helps to save victims, but also contributes to the development of new methods of countering cybercrime, adapting to the ever-changing tactics of attackers. Only together, the world community can hope to win this difficult struggle for human dignity and security.
Source
