Summary
In this blog, we’ll cover:
- The ways that AI is aiding the fight against human trafficking
- The challenges and ethical considerations of AI for human trafficking prevention
- Real-world examples of how AI is being used in human trafficking cases
- The future and promise of this technology for solving and preventing these crimes
The scope and impact of human trafficking
Human trafficking remains a global concern with staggering implications. Its prevalence is alarming, affecting countless individuals worldwide. The most recent UNODC data shows global trafficking victim detections have increased by roughly 25% since 2019, reflecting both growing criminal activity and improved identification efforts.
An estimated 25 million people worldwide are trapped in trafficking situations. Around 4.8 million victims are forced into sexual exploitation, while approximately 16 million individuals are subjected to forced labor exploitation. Forced labor cases, in particular, have risen sharply in recent years, now representing a growing share of detected trafficking worldwide. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected, making up roughly 70% of identified trafficking victims globally, often falling prey to sex trafficking.
In the United States, the scale of the problem is equally sobering. In 2024 alone, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received more than 32,000 signals, identifying nearly 12,000 trafficking cases involving over 21,800 victims. Meanwhile, across the European Union, 10,793 trafficking victims were officially registered in 2023, the highest total since recordkeeping began—a 6.9% year-over-year increase.
While victims suffer devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences, human trafficking also generates an estimated $150 billion in illegal profits each year, fueling organized crime and reinforcing the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations and prosecute perpetrators.
One way law enforcement and government agencies can take proper steps to protect their communities is by utilizing the right technology, particularly artificial intelligence for human trafficking prevention.
How AI is revolutionizing the fight against human trafficking
Some of the ways that AI and companies like Veritone are helping law enforcement and government agencies combat human trafficking is by enhancing human capabilities and efforts and creating faster, more streamlined, and more accurate processes. This includes enabling advanced data analysis, identification of patterns, and proactive intervention, capabilities that are increasingly essential as human trafficking becomes more digital. As such, the amount of evidence needed to be collected and reviewed is growing. This creates more work for those investigating as well as more avenues for traffickers to exploit.
AI-powered data analysis
AI-powered data analysis is a game-changer in the fight against human trafficking. By analyzing large datasets, it can uncover hidden patterns and expose complex trafficking networks — a critical advantage as traffickers increasingly rely on online platforms, encrypted communications, and dispersed digital footprints.
This technology also enhances communication and collaboration between law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and government organizations, enabling faster and more efficient responses. These efficiencies are especially important as reporting volumes increase, such as the tens of thousands of annual hotline signals now received in the U.S. alone.
Tools like Veritone Track further aid investigators by streamlining the process of tracking individuals and locating crucial information without the use of personally identifiable information (PII). This is particularly useful for tracking persons of interest and missing persons across different camera footage.
AI in victim identification
AI plays a vital role in victim identification by harnessing its capabilities to analyze online content and detect potential signs of trafficking. This technology assists LEAs in prioritizing cases based on risk assessment algorithms — a growing necessity as global victim identification continues to rise year over year.
By leveraging AI, public safety organizations can enhance their ability to identify and rescue victims, ensuring their path to recovery and the prosecution of traffickers. Tools like Veritone IDentify can contribute to the efficiency of identification by matching victims’ faces in images across law enforcement databases such as missing persons records or photographs provided by family and friends. For organizations that wish to forgo facial recognition technology, Veritone Track’s human-like object (HLO) detection presents a useful and highly effective alternative.
Another aspect is there are a lot of victims who are minors, which means there are not as many public facing photographs of them and adds to the crimes which need to be investigated. Furthermore, if there are any nude photographs of the survivors posted on the adds or if the traffickers take photographs or videos of the survivors performing sex work it becomes child sexual abuse material (CSAM).This adds to the workload of those investigating as they have to collect all devices belonging to the suspect which leads to more digital evidence that the officer has to log and search.
AI in suspect identification and apprehension
With its capabilities to analyze social media and other online platforms for suspect activity, artificial intelligence has proven to be instrumental in suspect identification and apprehension. AI also aids in cross-border investigations, an increasingly important capability as trafficking networks operate internationally.
Veritone IDentify and Track can enhance the efficiency of suspect identification, enabling faster case resolutions and more successful apprehension of human traffickers — all while working seamlessly with existing software and programs.
Challenges and ethical considerations in AI-driven anti-trafficking efforts
Balancing technological advancements with human judgment is vital to avoid overreliance on AI and maintain ethical decision-making in combating human trafficking.
With AI-driven anti-trafficking efforts, there are three main points that need to be taken into consideration: ensuring data privacy and protection due to the involvement of sensitive (or even confidential) information, addressing bias in AI algorithms to prevent discrimination, and setting a framework for transparency and accountability in AI systems.
Privacy and data security concerns
Using AI for human trafficking prevention raises important concerns regarding privacy and data security. While information sharing is vital for effective intervention, it must be balanced with respect for privacy rights.
Safeguarding sensitive data is crucial to protect the identity and confidentiality of victims, witnesses, and informants. Measures should be in place to ensure data security, including encryption and strict access controls.
Moreover, clear guidelines and regulations are necessary to prevent the misuse of collected data and to hold responsible parties accountable. Striking the right balance between information sharing and privacy is essential for maintaining trust and effectively combating human trafficking.
AI bias and discrimination
Although an incredibly helpful tool, there have been cases of machine learning and AI showing bias in the past, but this was due to how the technology was trained, not an innate quality of AI itself.
If not carefully developed and deployed, AI algorithms can perpetuate existing biases, leading to unfair targeting or profiling of certain individuals or groups. Transparency in development, diverse training datasets, regular audits, and ongoing evaluations are critical to mitigating these risks and ensuring fairness in AI-driven anti-trafficking efforts.
Legal and regulatory frameworks
Using AI for human trafficking prevention necessitates clear legal and regulatory frameworks. These should define permissible AI use, data collection and sharing practices, and the protection of privacy and human rights.
International collaboration is vital, as trafficking networks routinely cross borders. Strong frameworks emphasizing transparency, accountability, and ethics help ensure AI is deployed responsibly while safeguarding individual rights.
Real-world examples of AI in action against human trafficking
Real-world examples highlight the power of AI in combating human trafficking, showcasing its effectiveness in rescuing victims, apprehending perpetrators, and preventing trafficking altogether.
Successful AI-driven initiatives
One notable case is the Global Emancipation Network’s use of AI to analyze online advertisements and identify potential victims of sex trafficking. By detecting patterns and keywords indicative of exploitation, AI helped pinpoint victims and support law enforcement rescue operations.
Another example is the partnership between Thorn and Microsoft, which led to the development of Spotlight, an AI-powered tool that helps law enforcement prioritize and accelerate child trafficking investigations. Spotlight has helped identify potential juvenile victims in cases in order to help law enforcement escalate their investigations if needed. This tool helps analyze multiple ads across different platforms to help find links between survivors which would never have been identified.
Partnerships and collaborations
Public-private partnerships play a crucial role in leveraging AI against human trafficking. Initiatives like Tech Against Trafficking unite technology companies, NGOs, and international organizations to develop AI-powered solutions at scale.
The Polaris Project uses AI to analyze hotline data, a growing dataset given rising reporting volumes, enabling faster trend identification and improved victim support. Academic collaborations, such as Carnegie Mellon University’s Traffick Jam, further demonstrate how AI innovation can support investigations and disrupt trafficking networks.
The future of AI in the battle against human trafficking
Emerging AI technologies
Emerging technologies like natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision continue to improve detection of trafficking indicators across online communications, images, and video — enabling earlier intervention as digital trafficking activity expands.
Educating and empowering stakeholders
To fully realize AI’s potential, LEAs, NGOs, and the public must understand and trust these tools. Training and education ensure AI is used effectively and ethically within broader anti-trafficking strategies.
AI-driven efforts not only support immediate rescues and prosecutions but also contribute to long-term prevention by addressing systemic factors such as poverty, inequality, and gender-based violence.
The power and promise of AI in the fight against human trafficking
The power of AI cannot be overstated. It has already proven to be a force multiplier — enabling faster identification of victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and supporting law enforcement amid rising global trafficking detection rates.
To fully harness this potential, continued investment in AI research, responsible deployment, and cross-sector collaboration is essential.
By embracing AI ethically and strategically, we can make meaningful progress toward eradicating human trafficking and creating a safer, more just world.
To learn more about Veritone’s AI-powered tools like Track and IDentify, part of the Veritone iDEMS suite, contact a Veritone team member today by filling out the form below or start a chat.
Sources:
European Commission, Eurostat. (2025). Trafficking in human beings in the European Union: 2023 data.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
International Labour Organization. (2022). Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage. International Labour Office.
https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/publications/WCMS_854733/lang–en/index.htm
Polaris Project. (2025). Human trafficking statistics and trends.
https://polarisproject.org/understanding-human-trafficking/
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2024). Global report on trafficking in persons 2024. United Nations.
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/glotip.html
U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. (2025). 2024 U.S. national human trafficking hotline statistics. Polaris Project.
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
