Citation

Milivojevic S, Moore H, Segrave M. Anti-Traffick. Rev. 2020; 14: 16-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW))

DOI

10.14197/atr.201220142

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper analyses relations between human trafficking, modern slavery, and information communication technology. It looks at the history of the technology-trafficking nexus and flags some key advances in the counter-trafficking discourse in the last two decades. It provides an overview of how technology has been framed as both a part of the problem and part of the solution in the trafficking/slavery context and emphasises the impact of such developments on a range of actors, in particular, potential victims, NGOs, and the nation state. We suggest that the technology-slavery/trafficking connections, while often elusive, act as potent narrative and policy setters that can advance existing challenges and create new points of tension in the counter-trafficking context. We critically analyse these points of tension and destabilise some of their underpinning assumptions. In the conclusion, we highlight the need for rigorous empirical evidence, arguing that a more robust scholarly engagement with the role of technology in enabling and disrupting exploitation is essential. We also point to the importance of ensuring that technology is not a distraction from addressing the root causes of exploitation and abuse.

Keywords: Human trafficking;

Language: en

Keywords

e-trafficking; evidence-based knowledge; impact; technology