Pandemic During the Exploitation Sexual
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Sexual Exploitation During the Pandemic A Snapshot: April 2021
Transcript of Pandemic During the Exploitation Sexual
SexualExploitationDuring thePandemicA Snapshot: April 2021
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PAGE 2
Over the last year, Polaris examined data fromthe U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline todetermine the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human trafficking in the UnitedStates. Daily numbers of trafficking situations invarious categories in the different pre-shelter-in-place periods were compared with the post-shelter-in-place period. In addition, differencesin the demographics and other characteristicsof situations as well as signalers were examined(see box below).
It is important to note the limitations of thisanalysis. First, this is an exploration of
Backgroundcorrelation and not causation, meaning that thefindings are not proof that the changes are caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, theTrafficking Hotline exists to assist victims andsurvivors of human trafficking, and data isgathered only for the purpose of providing thatassistance; therefore, every caller is not askedthe exact same questions, contributing to thepossible measurement variation.
This brief is the second in a planned seriespresenting timely analysis and evidence toguide efforts to respond to emerging needs asa result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pre-shelter-in-place 2019: April 1st - September 30th, 2019Pre-shelter-in-place 2020: October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020Post-shelter-in-place 2020: April 1st - September 30th, 2020
TimePeriods
Pre-shelter-in-place 2019: April 1st - September 30th, 2019Pre-shelter-in-place 2020: October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020Post-shelter-in-place 2020: April 1st - September 30th, 2020
TimePeriodsThe analysis compares a six-month post-shelter-in-place period to two deliberately chosenpre-shelter-in-place periods, based on the orders to stay home on March 15th in SanFrancisco, CA. By March 30th, most states that eventually enacted a shelter in place orderhad done so.
Independent sample t-tests were used to examine if differences between two time periodsare likely to represent an actual difference rather than one that arose as a result of chancevariations. In this analysis, significant findings were noted if differences against both time pre-shelter-in-place periods were significant at p<0.05 levels (a standard level used in socialscience research, indicating a less than 5 percent probability that the difference is due tochance). Chi-square statistics were also used to examine for significant differences in theproportions of situations and signalers of trafficking of certain characteristics.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PAGE 3
Figure 1
Daily Number of Sex Trafficking Situations involving
Online Sexual Exploitation
Avera
ge D
aily N
um
ber
of
Sit
uati
ons
(95
% C
I)
October 2019 through September 2020
Pre-Shelter-in-Place2019
Pre-Shelter-in-Place2020
Post-Shelter-in-Place2020
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Figure 2
Daily Number of Non-Online Sex Trafficking Situations
Avera
ge D
aily N
um
ber
of
Sit
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(95
% C
I)
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
October 2019 through September 2020
Pre-Shelter-in-Place2019
Pre-Shelter-in-Place2020
Post-Shelter-in-Place2020
Findings
During the post-shelter-in-place period,the number of online situations of sextrafficking reported to the hotlineincreased significantly by more than 45percent. During that same period, traditional formsof commercial sex trafficking situations,such as street-based prostitution, wentdown by approximately 30 percent(Figures 1 and 2).
An examination of the number of dailysituations of sex trafficking reported to theTrafficking Hotline indicates a possible shift inwhere likely sex trafficking involving onlinesexual exploitation was happening during thepandemic. This in turn highlights howtraffickers quickly adapt to changing contextsand the challenges and opportunities thisposes to those trying to reduce and preventsex trafficking.
Specifically:
reported to the TraffickingHotline increased from around400 situations in both 6-month
periods before the pandemic to
ONLINE EXPLOITATION
MORE THAN 600during the first 6-months of the
pandemic.
Sex trafficking situations involving
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PAGE 4
Sex trafficking situations involving sexualexploitation on online platforms have verydifferent profiles and implications for response.For instance, an examination of two years ofdata to the Trafficking Hotline shows,compared to non-online sex traffickingsituations, online situations involved moreminors (55% vs 24%) and more males (15 vs7%). In addition, while a majority (70%) of thereports for non-online sex trafficking situationscame from those with direct knowledge, only50 percent of sex trafficking situations werereported by someone with direct knowledge ofthe situation (see Figure 3). Therefore,providing resources or referrals to victims ononline platforms to facilitate their exit is achallenge. In addition, identifying the traffickersin online platforms can be especially difficult asthe platforms provide them with thecapabilities to hide their identities andlocations. It then becomes critical for theinstitutions and platforms that may beunintentionally facilitating this exploitation totake part in disrupting it.
Why This Matters
Proportion of Sex Trafficking Situations in Which
Someone with Direct Knowledge Contacted the Hotline
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f Sit
uati
ons
(95
% C
I)
Type of Sexual Exploitation
Online Sexual Exploitation
October 2018 - September 2020
Other Types of Sexual Exploitation
.60
.65
.70
.75
.45
.50
.55
Figure 3
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PAGE 5
Call to Action
Centola, D., Becker, J., Brackbill, D., & Baronchelli, A. (2018).Experimental evidence for tipping points in social convention.Science, 360(6393), 1116-1119.
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Instituting safeguards to block activity likelyto connect with online sexual exploitation,including blocks on communication betweenminors and adults who have not beenapproved by a parent or guardian,restrictions on the use of video or imagesharing through direct messages or privateaudiences for minors, and age verificationfor platforms that allow video or imagesharing.Developing effective online sexualexploitation detection systems throughanalysis of communication and image orvideo sharing patterns, modeling potentialprofiles based on identified traffickers orconsumers, and sharing of past perpetratordata across platforms and companies.Enacting victim-centered responseprotocols including referral to supportservices such as the National HumanTrafficking Hotline, temporary functionalitylimitations related to video, image, or filesharing, and resource referralcommunication to likely victims and peers ofvictims within networks of identifiedpotential online exploiters.
responses in three key areas:
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is supported by theAdministration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financialassistance award totaling $3.5 million with 71.87% percentage funded byACF/HHS and $1.37 million and 28.13% percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do notnecessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, byACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit theACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements:https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements#chapter-8.
While increased use of online platforms forsexual exploitation may be related to COVID-19restrictions, behavior change science cautionsthat the shift may persist in the future as bothbuyers and traffickers get used to it andperceive it as lower risk or easier access than in-person sexual services.
Financial services institutions can contributegreatly to ensure that such exploitation doesnot continue to thrive. Development of newfinancial typologies and red-flag indicators thatallow the anti-money laundering (AML)community to effectively identify this activityand report it to appropriate authorities.Additionally, financial institutions which doselect to bank adult entertainment platformscan play a critical role in enforcing effectivestandards pertaining to ID and age verification,monitoring, and response processes.
Online social media companies can also learnfrom these findings, with recommended
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