How Facebook, Tinder and Airbnb Are Being Used for Sex Trafficking in Colombia
Mar 3, 2025
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Antonia Mufarech, a Bloomberg reporter with firsthand experience investigating sex trafficking in Colombia, joins the conversation to shed light on a troubling issue. She discusses how dating apps like Tinder and platforms like Facebook and Airbnb are being exploited for human trafficking. The podcast reveals alarming statistics, such as recent fatalities linked to these apps, and highlights the challenges tech companies face in policing their platforms. Antonia emphasizes the urgent need for better safety measures to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
The U.S. Embassy's warning underscores the safety risks of dating apps in Colombia, particularly following recent suspicious deaths of American travelers.
Despite efforts by tech companies to prevent exploitation, gaps in user safety allow criminal activities to persist, highlighting the need for greater accountability.
Deep dives
Warning Signs for Travelers
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia issued a warning for American travelers regarding the dangers associated with dating apps, following a series of suspicious deaths of U.S. citizens in popular tourist areas like Medellin. Eight American men were reported killed in two months, often after meeting women online and going on dates. The embassy advised travelers to exercise caution by vetting their matches, meeting in public spaces, and informing others of their whereabouts. This advisory highlights emerging safety concerns tied to online dating in the region, prompting Tinder to issue a rare caution to its users.
The Dark Side of Tourism
While Colombia has improved its image and attracted tourists, it has also become a destination for individuals seeking to exploit the sex trade, including sex trafficking of minors. Reports indicate that foreign men often use apps to solicit minors for sexual activities, exploiting the vulnerabilities of young girls who may be coerced by local networks. Local experts have identified a troubling increase in organized crime, where gangs facilitate encounters between these men and minors through social media and communication apps. The situation emphasizes the need for greater awareness of the risks involved in tourism and the exploitative practices that can thrive in such contexts.
Challenges for Tech Companies
Tech companies like Meta, Airbnb, and Tinder have recognized the role their platforms play in facilitating exploitation, yet challenges remain in effectively preventing such abuses. Despite implementing measures to limit interactions between adults and minors, users have found ways to circumvent these protections, highlighting gaps in user safety. Authorities and advocates argue that firms must intensify their efforts to monitor and respond to illicit activities on their platforms. The ongoing exploitation of vulnerable individuals calls for enhanced accountability from tech companies, stressing the importance of user verification and proactive safety measures.
In January 2024, the US Embassy issued a warning to all American travelers: Be careful using dating apps in Colombia. Eight men had been killed in two months — several of them after traveling to Medellin and using apps to connect with women online.
Bloomberg’s Natalie Lung and Antonia Mufarech investigated and found an even darker situation. On today’s Big Take podcast, they join host Sarah Holder to explain how apps from US-based tech companies are being used for sex trafficking and child exploitation in Colombia — and why it’s so hard for the companies to keep criminals off their platforms.