On 25 June 2026, civil society representatives, government officials, and UN experts gathered for a Constructive Dialogue on Trafficking in Persons, turning a sharp focus on how technology is reshaping this crime — and how it can be harnessed to fight it. Imelda Poole, CJ, Marta Santos, and Eva Rodriguez-Diaz attended the online meeting to represent the priorities of their respective ministries as well as the global efforts of the Congregation of Jesus through the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate NGO to the UN.
Panelists described a troubling evolution: since the COVID-19 pandemic pushed criminal networks online, traffickers have exploited social media, messaging apps, job portals, and dark web marketplaces to reach victims with greater anonymity. Perhaps most alarming is the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, used to clone voices and faces for “sextortion,” blackmail, and fraud — tactics that have already had devastating consequences, including cases linked to youth suicides. Cryptocurrency has further complicated efforts to trace and disrupt trafficking finances across borders.
Yet the same technologies offer new tools for protection. Speakers highlighted AI-powered systems for detecting suspicious online activity, mapping scam compounds through electricity and satellite data, and improving case management and victim identification through platforms like the Aselo CRM. Brazil’s newly passed digital child protection statute was cited as a model for embedding “protection by design” into technology platforms themselves.
Throughout the day, civil society organizations stressed that partnership — not just cooperation — with governments, law enforcement, and tech companies is essential. Speakers called for stronger regional networks, particularly in underrepresented areas like Oceania, along with continued investment in training, local-language outreach, and survivor-centered support such as economic reintegration and legal protection under the principle of non-punishment.
The dialogue closed with a shared recognition: as trafficking crosses borders and platforms with ease, so too must the response be cross-border. Building ethical, well-governed AI tools alongside stronger legal frameworks and community awareness will be central to ensuring technology serves protection rather than exploitation.
Prepared using the notes of Imelda Poole, CJ
Members of the CJ Anti-Human Trafficking Network – Marta Santos, Imelda Poole, CJ, and Eva Rodriguez-Diaz – prepared a written statement to follow up the Constructive Dialogues. You can read it below.
Autor: Sarah Rudolph, CJ
