Technology, recruitment and exploitation: The new frontier in the fight against human trafficking
Abstract
This study analyzes the impact of technological development and artificial intelligence (AI) on human trafficking (HT), considering its influence on recruitment, exploitation, and evasion methods, as well as on the countermeasures adopted to combat it. The article examines the evolution of HT in digital environments, the use of emerging technologies, strategies to fight digital trafficking, and the ethical dilemmas involved in the use of AI. The methodology is based on an literature qualitative analysis, allowing for an assessment of the state of the art and a critical analysis of this phenomenon. The research is situated at the intersection of HT and the impact of AI, both in its expansion and in the efforts to combat it.
Received: 09 October 2025; Accepted: 06 July 2026; Published online: Articles in Press 29 July 2026
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