"Global Police Track Human Traffickers in Online Crackdown"

According to Europol, police investigators from across the globe joined forces recently in a digital operation to identify human trafficking suspects and victims.  Led by police in Germany and the Netherlands, Europol's EMPACT hackathon featuring participation from 27 countries and 76 experts came togeather over four days to investigate leads on internet-enabled trafficking.  The hackathon's focus was to identify indicators of illegal activity online, such as the misuse of "legal business structures," social networks, cryptocurrency, and gaming platforms.  During the hackathon, the participants were able to check 252 entities, including platforms, individuals, usernames, locations, and phone numbers.  Check 40 online platforms for sexual and labor exploitation and organ trafficking.  Identify 16 suspected human traffickers and identify 60 potential victims of human trafficking.  Among the most shocking discoveries made by investigators was a dark website where hundreds of traffickers offer male and female victims for sale or hire.  During the hackathon, investigators also sought to crack down on the exploitation of Ukrainian victims, which has been ongoing since Russia's invasion, and a disturbing new crime-as-a-service development known as "e-pimping." In December 2023, Interpol revealed that its Operation Storm Makers II initiative led to the arrest of 281 individuals on suspicion of human trafficking, passport forgery, corruption, telecom fraud, sexual exploitation, and other offenses.

Infosecurity Magazine reports: "Global Police Track Human Traffickers in Online Crackdown"