A new digital system promises to make police work in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation significantly easier. The system, “STIM” (Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix), was developed at the University of Sheffield in the UK, and has already been used successfully by several investigating authorities and NGOs.
Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix
The tool analyses ads posted on platforms for services in an effort to recognise signals that could possibly point to human trafficking or sexual exploitation. It factors in pointers such as formulations in the text, video material and details such as address or contact details, before going on to evaluate the posts and the level of risk that they have been posted by human traffickers. The system offers three levels of risk (low, medium and high), enabling investigators to reach an informed decision as to which cases need to be checked out in greater detail.
Locating victims and perpetrators online
One major benefit of STIM is that the police and charitable organisations are no longer exclusively reliant on victims of human trafficking filing a complaint over the issue themselves and reporting the perpetrators. Many of those affected do not ask for help, because they are scared or simply under the total control of their abusers. This situation is made worse still by addictions, a lack of language skills amongst victims and uncertainty regarding their own rights. As well as this, there is often deep mistrust of the authorities, as some of the victims have had negative experiences in their countries of origin.
Greater efficiency in the fight against human trafficking
Until now, police stations and organisations have had to search through thousands of online posts manually, often representing a huge burden for staff. While STIM continues to be reliant upon human intervention, it is designed to make the risk evaluation process fundamentally more efficient and less complicated for participants. The tool can also be used by the service platforms themselves.
Initial areas of application and successes
Thames Valley Police, in the UK, could no longer imagine working without the tool. Five criminal investigations are currently underway there, and a number of arrests have already been made thanks to the use of the STIM model. They are already using STIM to evaluate over 128 online posts, which has led to 40 onsite visits and dozens of people being protected. At the time of writing, STIM was being used by 16 police forces and two NGOs in the United Kingdom, four police authorities abroad, and in Denmark, by the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking.
Studying the use of Artificial Intelligence
In May last year, a study entitled “Unmasking Human Trafficking: New AI Research Reveals Hidden Recruitment Networks” was published in the USA which researched new ways in which Artificial Intelligence can be used to reveal hidden recruitment structures. This research reveals that many victims – particularly those from rural or economically disadvantaged regions – are recruited using falsified job offers, before being forced into more clearly visible forms of exploitation. STIM is being used at the correct point, therefore, and in a few years, this and tools like it are set to be used everywhere.
Further development and future prospects
Developers are working continually to improve STIM, based on reports from centres using STIM. As well as this, training sessions are provided to help keep operatives up-to-date with how to best use the system. Eventually, as many police units as possible in the United Kingdom and around the world are expected to use the tool to identify victims more quickly and provide them with greater all-round protection.
Human know-how
STIM is a highly promising step in the fight against human trafficking. It helps root out risks more efficiently, prioritises investigations, and potentially protects those affected, even if they do not report themselves. Just as with all digital tools, however, the golden rule is that such successes can only be achieved when the system is responsibly and meaningfully operated by a human being. The final evaluation of the results is a job for the investigators, and investigators alone.
Further progress in the fight against human trafficking
Things are also progressing apace elsewhere in the fight against human trafficking – in the field of prevention, for example. Last year, an EU-financed project named WESTEROS 2 was brought to life in an effort to marry a range of different elements, including training of judicial and police staff in different countries, sensitisation campaigns, and technical know-how. The project has not only made it possible to reach thousands of people directly through campaigns, but also strengthened specific skills such as financial investigations and international collaboration.
Translated by Tim Lywood
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