The digital space is not only a means of enabling exploitation, but also an effective tool to protect the world’s most vulnerable people and reach them with the gospel.
Today, tens of millions of people are trapped in human trafficking and exploitation in every country of the world. In response, SIM established For Freedom, our anti-trafficking and exploitation ministry. Serving In Mission workers are currently serving in more than 70 countries and many are in communities where people are vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.
For Freedom offers training and resources to equip our mission workers so they can conduct their ministries to address some of the risks vulnerable people face and to care for them holistically. According to the International Labour Organisation, there are more than 49.6 million victims of trafficking worldwide — men, women and children who are exploited for labour, services, and commercial sex — and this number is increasing.
This is in part due to rapid advances in digital technology that have made it much easier for traffickers to find and exploit victims. Human traffickers are known for being innovative, and are using digital tools to amplify the reach, scale, and speed of human trafficking.
Sarah Scott Webb, Serving In Mission’s For Freedom ministry co-lead, has just returned from attending a Global Summit on Technology and Exploitation in the USA, where more than 600 movement leaders and advocates from 15 countries, gathered together to learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technology and its impact on exploitation.
At the summit, Sarah heard disturbing accounts of how traffickers are using popular online platforms to groom and exploit new victims.
It was shocking to hear that most trafficking is now occurring on social media — especially on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook,” she admits, “and it’s teenage boys who are being targeted the most.”
Sarah advocates some simple tips for keeping safe on social media and building a ‘healthy cynicism’ when online: “Make sure your privacy settings are always on, and location is always turned off — and don’t engage with, like, or comment on anyone’s posts unless you know them in real life.”
While speakers discussed the dangers of new technologies, they also acknowledged that this technology is our greatest weapon to fight exploitation and restore dignity to survivors.
“We heard many examples of tech companies who are developing new platforms and protections to keep us safe online,” adds Sarah. “They reinforced the need to teach our young people how to be aware of the dangers online, and how to use technology safely.”
Social messaging apps are being used by For Freedom workers and partners to prevent trafficking from happening in their communities. During the opening months of the Ukraine war, For Freedom partners used social media channels, websites, and WhatsApp groups to share information and help many displaced people avoid traffickers and find safe passage.
For Freedom workers in Zimbabwe also use WhatsApp groups to learn about trafficking and teach others what to watch out for. They belong to a local WhatsApp group that regularly posts stories of people who’ve been trafficked.
“This WhatsApp group is a powerful way that people are keeping safe from traffickers,” Sarah says. “People hear about where traffickers are operating and how they’re trying to trick them with false job offers. With this knowledge, they can keep safe.”
Making people aware of online dangers and sharing how to use technology safely are important ways of protecting the vulnerable and preventing trafficking and exploitation.
“Because SIM is serving in so many communities — in many practical ministries, including health, sports, church planting and education to name a few — we’re in a prime position to share this information, put some practical protective measures in place and keep our communities safe,” she adds.
“Sharing God’s love in this practical way opens doors to be able to share the good news of Jesus.”
For Freedom ministry co-lead Karine Woldhuis was made aware of a trafficking case in the town she was serving in with her family, Loja, Ecuador. Despite the whole town immediately responding and searching for the young girl who’d been taken, sadly she was killed by her traffickers.
“I could see the need for us to grapple with it as Serving In Mission — no matter where we serve — whether it was in southern Ecuador or somewhere in Africa or Asia,” she shares. “Everywhere we work, we can be responding to people who are at risk of being trafficked as part of our mission call.
“Since For Freedom began, there’s been a steady increase of understanding of how modern slavery exists in the places where we serve and we do have an opportunity to take simple, yet effective measures, to prevent human trafficking across many different ministries.”
Happy for us to track your visit using Google Analytics (they may set tracking cookies), purely to understand how you use the site and improve it for future visitors?
