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“Spotting the signs” of trafficking recruitment online: Exploring the characteristics of advertisements targeted at migrant job-seekers
Volodko,Ada Cockbain,Ella Kleinberg,Bennett
Volodko,Ada
Cockbain,Ella
Kleinberg,Bennett
Abstract
Despite considerable concern about how human trafficking offenders may use the Internet to recruit their victims, arrange logistics or advertise services, the Internet-trafficking nexus remains unclear. This study explored the prevalence and correlates of a set of commonly-used indicators of labour trafficking in online job advertisements. Taking a case study approach, we focused on a major Lithuanian website aimed at people seeking work abroad. We examined a snapshot of job advertisements (n = 430), assessing both their general characteristics (e.g. industry, destination country) and the presence of trafficking indicators. The vast majority (98.4%) contained at least one indicator, suggesting certain "indicators" may in fact be commonplace characteristics of this labour market. Inferential statistical tests revealed significant but weak relationships between the advertisements’ characteristics and the number and nature of indicators present. While there may be value in screening job advertisements to identify potential labour trafficking and exploitation, additional information is needed to ascertain actual labour trafficking. We conclude with an outlook on automated approaches to identifying cases of possible trafficking and a discussion of the benefits and ethical concerns of a data science-driven approach.
Description
Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors. The write up of this paper fell partially under an ESRC-funded grant on transnational human trafficking (grant reference: ES/S008624/1).
Date
2020
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Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
Data automation, EASTERN-EUROPE, Human trafficking, Internet, LABOR, Labour exploitation, Labour trafficking, Migration, Recruitment, Transnational crime, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Citation
Volodko, A, Cockbain, E & Kleinberg, B 2020, '“Spotting the signs” of trafficking recruitment online : Exploring the characteristics of advertisements targeted at migrant job-seekers', Trends in Organized Crime, vol. 23, pp. 7-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-019-09376-5
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess