How Accenture is Using Machine Learning to Uncover Human Trafficking Activities

Human trafficking is a horrific business, and it's all around us, in plain sight. An estimated 25 million people are victims of human trafficking each year globally, with many more cases going unreported.?It’s also a $150 billion industry, making it the second most profitable in the world.

These facts alone are terrifying. This is without even considering the long-term mental and physical health impact human trafficking activities have on victims, their families and loved ones. Often, it also leads to life-threatening health risks and untimely death.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. I’d like to take this opportunity to not only raise awareness about this growing problem, but also share some recent work we’ve done at Accenture to be a part of the solution.

Eighteen months ago, Accenture kicked off a project in partnership with Splunk, a data-to-everything platform, and the Global Emancipation Network (GEN), an organization that uses data and analytics to help bridge the gap for groups trying to stop human trafficking.?Together, we created a way to use data and artificial intelligence to find and shut down trafficking establishments, ultimately saving lives. What resulted was the world’s first human trafficking risk classifier.

The gap that an AI powered solution addresses is huge: Human traffickers use sophisticated methods to hide in plain sight from law enforcement. For example, traffickers might advertise their businesses online with references to “roses” or “flowers” in exchange for services – a coded language that signals the illicit nature of what they are doing. They also take advantage of a wide range of technologies such as encrypted phones, social media, and the deep web to market and profit from their victims.?

Our pilot looks across these platforms to analyze the digital footprints that can point to human trafficking. Through this analysis, our AI powered solution can then proactively identify risky businesses, individuals, ads, and reviews, and flag establishments that may be engaging in human trafficking.?

Take a moment to look at this video that shows how the solution works.?

Since its launch a year ago, the solution has been shared with various public safety agencies, private organizations and nonprofits in California and beyond. Insights, powered by the solution, has led to prosecutions and illegal massage parlor closures in San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County Police Department, with many more high-risk businesses currently under investigation.?

This is just the beginning. Plans are underway to apply the solution to various organizations like social media platforms and financial institutions to help disrupt the human trafficking chain.

Working on Human Trafficking solutions has also spurred global collaboration within Accenture. There are now over 200 people across Accenture tackling the menace of human trafficking by applying technology to this gruesome crime or dedicating their personal time to help survivors re-integrate back into the society. Through this network we’ve been able to share ideas, raise awareness, and empower each other to do our part.?

?I’m proud of the work our teams have done, and we know there’s a lot more work to be done. Stay tuned for more updates on how Accenture is working with partners and nonprofit organizations to stop human traffickers and save lives.?