Stats + Stories Statistical Anti-Trafficking Efforts | Stats + Stories Episode 328
May 23, 2024
Nick Freeman, an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama and co-author focused on using data to combat sex trafficking, shares powerful insights into this global crisis. He discusses the staggering statistic of 27 million victims and the critical need for data analytics in identifying trafficking online. Freeman delves into the complexities of analyzing online ads, the collaboration between academia, law enforcement, and nonprofits, and the ethical challenges in these efforts, showcasing how technology can play a key role in fighting this issue.
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Project Origins
- The Sex Trafficking Analytics for Network Detection and Disruption in Alabama initiative started in 2019.
- It aims to use data analytics to combat sex trafficking, focusing on online advertisements linked to exploitation.
Data Challenges
- A major challenge in quantifying sex trafficking is the sheer volume of online ads, with 100,000-120,000 ads collected daily.
- Differentiating between real ads and scams poses a significant hurdle.
Identifying Victims
- Identifying trafficking victims within online sex ads is difficult due to the lack of ground truth.
- The project relies on partners to identify potential victims during field interactions to improve data labeling.