Human trafficking is a crime that is affecting all nations making it a global problem. Its effects are long term and devastating to the victims and their families. It causes physical harm, psychological harm and also mental illness to the victims. Human trafficking promotes slavery in the modern world and as technology advances; it has opened avenues for this vice to thrive. The crime has utilized the skills of various professionals to curb it among them computer forensics professionals.
There are various professional fighting vice human trafficking. As a computer scientist with a specialty in computer forensics, I hope to contribute to ending the trade of innocent people across the globe. Some of the responsibilities I would have would include implementing activities that will interrupt the trade. Such activities include; development of software and other tools that can be used in investigating suspected cases of online trafficking activities and development of algorithms and systems that can store large data about human trafficking activities ( Hachey & Phillippi, 2017) . The algorithms would provide a collection of evidence that can be used to predict human trafficking and prevent it. Another responsibility would be the development of advanced software that can encrypt the information on the perpetrators' channels of communication especially those on social media platforms. He advanced platforms can be used by law enforcers to develop a map of movement through phone numbers and their I.P addresses while online (Ballon, 2014). When law enforcers identify potential crimes about to happen, it would be my duty to help monitor the activities of the perpetrators and ensure that trafficking does not happen and that the perpetrators are captured (Sadwick, 2018). It is also wise for the public to have communication channels to report any incidences that they deem illegal. I would be keen to monitor the communication channels and identify a potential threat.
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Any team is comprised of people from various professional backgrounds and as such overlapping of duties and responsibilities may occur. Friction among colleagues may be witnessed. However, it is important that workers understand conflict resolution to ensure their duties are performed promptly and efficiently.
The victims of human trafficking are a special population requiring to be handled with great care. There are various ethical considerations to be implemented when it comes to handling people who have been trafficked. Some of the ethical considerations would include being compassionate and neural to ensure no harm comes to the victims. As professionals seeking to end human trafficking, we should ensure our work promotes security and ensure that we safeguard the victims from the negative impact of the vice. Our team should be able to identify and minimize risks and while attending to the victims’ informed consent should be acquired without coercion. Confidentiality and anonymity of the information and data acquired from the victims should be ensured (Macias-Konstantopoulos, 2017). The victims of human trafficking are from different parts of the world, and as such, they will speak different languages ( United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking , 2008). Field teams and interpreters should be well prepared for the situation they will face and how to treat these people and make them as comfortable as possible. While handling the victims’ sometimes emergency intervention may be inevitable, as a result, the field teams should prepare referral information and provide a comfortable situation for these people who have suffered physical and mental problems. The law enforcement officers and other personnel who respond to these victims for help should not hesitate to help through putting the information they have into good use.
There are various resources that I would use in investigating a case in human trafficking. Some of these resources include; social media, advanced technologies, and professional networking ( Hachey & Phillippi, 2017) . As technology is advancing so is the social media platform. Traffickers are using social media platforms to recruit unsuspecting people. The brokerage process has moved to online networks. Traffickers are learned how to use social media and the dark web. Through the use of social media would be able to identify trends and intercept the recruitment of vulnerable people. The traffickers prey on peoples insecurities hence enticing them to the world of trafficking (Fraser, 2016). Technology is advancing each day, and as a result, I will be on the lookout as well as participate in the development of new technology to help track suspected cases and provide a case series that can be used to predict future cases. Professional networking with other professionals in the field would help me gain more knowledge about the cases and identify trends. Such vital information would help intercept traffickers’ activities and save innocent people from being sold off into slavery and sex trafficking (Kunz, Baughman, Yarnell, & Williamson, n.d). I would also use professional networking to gain more information on the cases that I would be working on. This way the time taken on particular case minimal as a timely response to breakthroughs in a case can save very many lives.
A forensic psychology professional could manage the risk or assess the threat through identifying vulnerabilities that are online, especially among the children under the age of eighteen years. Traffickers prey on the vulnerabilities of young people; insecurities such as lack of confidence can be exploited. Online grooming is common among the traffickers when they identify a vulnerable person. A forensic psychology professional would be able to decode messages hidden among conversations among children online.
The forensic psychology professional identifies risks and assess the risk online and informs the knowledge of other law enforcement agents and other professionals fighting human trafficking; this was speeding up the investigations. These professionals are also able to develop strategies through which traffickers can be stopped and prevented from recruiting and preying on the vulnerabilities of young people (Toney-Butler, & Mittel, 2018). The preventing strategies can later be shared with law enforcement agencies as well as the community especially the parents. Informed parents will know how to regulate online activity for their children and ensure they do not become victims of human trafficking.
The work of a forensic psychology professional could contribute to social change through the involvement of the whole community in fighting a vice that is affecting the whole world. Community involvement will mean that all stakeholders are informed and equipped to fight the vice of human trafficking. This will mean that people know what to look out for and can inform the law enforcing officers of the risks identified hence saving victims of human trafficking. E effects of human trafficking can also help children shy away from it (Ijadi-Maghsoodi, Cook, Barnert, Gaboian, & Bath, 2016). Knowing the Involvement of the community will also ensure that risks are identified and mitigated in time and crime prevented.
In conclusion, human trafficking is a crime affecting many people and countries. As a result, many professionals are involved in fighting this crime. Computer forensics is one profession involved in fighting human trafficking. These professionals use technology to identify trends and risks as well as finding victims of human trafficking. There are various ethical considerations to be put in place to ensure the safety and dignity of the victims. Professionals in computer forensics use various resources such as social media, technology and professional networking to solve and piece together investigations in time. Another group of professionals in resolving human trafficking is forensic psychology professional. They are responsible for identifying risks and assess the risk online and informing him of relevant authority to prevent and resolve ongoing investigations.
References
Ballon, M. (2014, March 27). Fighting modern slavery through technology. USC News. Retrieved from https://news.usc.edu/60691/fighting-modern-slavery-through-technology/
Fraser, C. (2016). An analysis of the emerging role of social media in human trafficking: Examples from labour and human organ trading. International Journal of Development Issues , 15(2), 98-112, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDI-12-2015-0076 .
Hachey, L. M., & Phillippi, J. C. (2017). Identification and Management of Human Trafficking Victims in the Emergency Department. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 39(1), 31-51. doi: 10.1097/TME.0000000000000138
Ijadi-Maghsoodi, R., Cook, M., Barnert, E. S., Gaboian, S., & Bath, E. (2016). Understanding and Responding to the Needs of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth: Recommendations for the Mental Health Provider. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am., 25(1), 107-22. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2015.08.007
Kunz, R., Baughman, M., Yarnell, R., & Williamson, C. (n.d.). Social media & sex trafficking process from connection and recruitment, to sales. Retrieved from http://www.utoledo.edu/hhs/htsji/pdfs/smr.pdf
Macias-Konstantopoulos, W. L. (2017). Caring for the Trafficked Patient: Ethical Challenges and Recommendations for Health Care Professionals. AMA Journal of Ethics . 19(1), 80-90. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.1.msoc2-1701.
Sadwick, R. (2018, January). 7 Ways Technology Is Fighting Human Trafficking. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccasadwick/2016/01/11/tech-fighting-human-trafficking/#542f374f6cac
Toney-Butler, T. J., & Mittel, O. (2018). Human Trafficking . Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing
United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking. (2008). Guide to ethics and human rightsin counter trafficking . Bangkok, Thailand: United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking.
