As modern crimes grow increasingly intertwined with our digital lives, it is imperative to shed light on the grim realities. In the inaugural installment of our ‘DF Crimes Revealed’ series, we shine a spotlight on human trafficking and unveil effective strategies and solutions to tackle this crime type. Joining host Jared Barnhart in this exploration is Matt Parker, co-founder of The Exodus Road, a global charity dedicated to combating human trafficking.

A View into the Human Trafficking Landscape

“50 million modern-day slaves,” Parker grimly states, reflecting the statistic from the International Labour Organization. A significant number that has since jumped from 27 million, merely 13 years ago when Parker first started with The Exodus Road. Adding to the gravity of reality, Parker laments the complex nature of human trafficking—from children locked in cages to unsuspecting victims lured by false promises of employment.

Moreover, Parker highlights the vulnerable age bracket targeted by traffickers, with the UN identifying 14 to 15 years as the prime age range for sexual exploitation. Varied and insidious, addressing this issue demands a multifaceted approach, encompassing economic empowerment, community vigilance and robust law enforcement efforts.

There is also the need for proactive engagement and innovative solutions—especially in the realm of digital forensics—in the fight against this global issue.

How Digital Forensics Helps the Fight

A must-have as a part of law enforcement agency’s front line against human trafficking, Parker underscores the critical role of digital forensics and digital evidence in modern investigation with a poignant example.

“We had a case recently in Latin America, where the law enforcement partners, we had identified what appeared to be a drug smuggling cartel. And they surrounded that establishment with the intent of identifying drug use and making that arrest. However, they collected the phones and used Cellebrite UFED to make an extraction and analysis. They ultimately uncovered the fact that human trafficking was taking place and there was a child on the premises when they made those arrests and collected her as well.” He said.

Credible Witness

In this instance, not only did digital forensics uncover a human trafficking ring, but it also helped solidify the case against the perpetrators.

“I think this is important for listeners, when you rely on a child to give a testimony about their human trafficking, the case is very weak. It’s very unstable, less than 1% of victims of trafficking take the stand globally. So, if we’re relying on children to take the stand and face their traffickers, the success rate of those cases is going to plummet. But if you insert digital forensics, it’s a very clear story because as we all know, traffickers run their business from their cell phones, they’re texting their victims, they’re texting their handlers to criminal notes that they manage, it’s all on their phone,” Parker explains. “So, when we introduce that, in court, it changes the entire tone of the room, it’s much more difficult to sweep that case under the rug if you have a mountain of evidence that came off a trafficker’s cell phone.”

Connecting Dots

He also emphasizes the ability of digital forensics tools to unearth connections and reveal a larger network of crime. “Solutions like Cellebrite Pathfinder can cross-analyze all data on multiple phones. You see waypoints, you see connections that you otherwise wouldn’t see. It’s a game-changer,” Parker said.

Cross Collaboration

Digital forensics solutions boost efficiency by enabling easier cross-collaboration and evidence storage. “The biggest problems that we hear in law enforcement today are around storage and the ability to collaborate, right? Like where do we have this shared area where we can put all the evidence and keep it forever?” Barnhart said. “Cellebrite Guardian allows for that and lets, for example, a police officer in one area or state share and collaborate with others from another state quickly.”

Continuous learning

Ultimately, in the pursuit of justice for human trafficking victims and maximizing digital forensics, the advice from both experts is to constantly stay updated on the industry’s latest and keep up with relevant training. “Don’t get comfortable with the license you got five years ago; you need to be up to speed on the latest and greatest.” Parker urged.

Strategies and Considerations to Combat Human Trafficking

Employing a Trifecta

The approach involves undercover operations to identify victims, digital forensics analysis of devices/online activity and open-source data scraping to map out trafficking networks. This provides human, digital and publicly available evidence.

Victims-First Approach

Gathering evidence non-coercively could include covert recordings rather than interrogating victims, to avoid re-traumatization. The goal is prioritizing victim care and safety over rushed prosecutions. Consider a qualified aftercare environment—be it government or private—a safe environment they deserve.

Leave No Stone Unturned

Developing cases against the entire syndicate involves thoroughly investigating all actors and locations involved, like identifying all places victims are held, to ensure all are rescued during raids and the full network is dismantled.

The exploration into human trafficking and the pivotal role of digital forensics presents a sobering yet hopeful narrative It underscores the imperative for continuous learning, collaboration and innovation within law enforcement efforts. Beyond the technical aspects, also lies a resounding call for concerted action—a call to prioritize victim welfare, enhance investigative methodologies and foster global cooperation.

If you have not, catch the 3-part video series with Matt Parker below.

Explore Now 

In the fight against Human Trafficking, Exodus Road and Cellebrite, in collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and Project Raven, have initiated Operation Find Them All (OFTA). A collaborative effort, this initiative aims to rescue and protect children from exploitation worldwide. Through targeted interventions and strategic deployments, Operation Find Them All also seeks to amplify the impact of anti-trafficking efforts and bring hope to countless lives.

Find out more here 

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