Countering Human Trafficking Risks of Generative AI with Trustworthy AI and Education

Abstract

Generative AI (GenAI) holds transformative potential across sectors, yet its rapid deployment also brings significant risks, notably the potential to facilitate human trafficking through sophisticated recruitment and exploitation tactics. This article explores GenAI's dual role in both enabling and countering trafficking, highlighting how traffickers use AI to automate deceptive outreach and create exploitative content, while also considering how ethical AI can reinforce anti-trafficking efforts. It argues for a comprehensive framework grounded in Trustworthy AI (TAI) principles and strengthened by UNESCO's guidelines, which prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability. A multi-faceted approachfocused on education, regulation, technological innovation, and cross-sector partnerships-can harness AI responsibly to disrupt trafficking networks and support victims. By embedding ethical AI, expanding digital literacy, and fostering cooperation among policymakers, technologists, and NGOs, we can build societal resilience against trafficking while safeguarding human rights and digital safety.

Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence, Human Trafficking, AI Ethics, Law Enforcement Technology, Victim Support Systems, Privacy Concerns, AI Regulation, Cross-sector Collaboration, Trafficking Detection, Digital Exploitation