Supply vs demand : the connection between the dark web and global human trafficking

Abstract

The purpose behind this research paper is mainly that of discovering and interpreting the relationship between human trafficking and the Dark Web. Research carried out and gathered by scholars and institutions, regarding both respective topics was outlined. This was followed by an evaluation of human trafficking, namely, what it entails, how it is detected, its insurgence in recent years and how it is being addressed. Subsequently, compiled research on what the Dark Web is and the role it plays in supplementing criminality was also discussed. The last part of the literature review entailed a discussion which focuses on what scholars believe is the relationship between the two entities, and whether they agree that they effectively correlate. Following this research evaluation, the data gathering process was presented through interviews. These interviews were conducted with professionals that mostly work in policing and human trafficking, along with some scholars and experts who have a background in cybercrime. The questions posed during the interviews were varied to ensure a reliable and exhaustive assessment. The main aim of the questions was to target the possibility of both entities having a relationship or any correlation. Challenges regarding the data gathering process were also discussed. After the interviews, themes were extracted, thanks to which I could determine whether the high human trafficking numbers are indeed a result of the Dark Web accessibility and its increasing popularity, or else due to other unrelated reasons. The conclusion affirmed that while there is indeed a relationship between human trafficking and the Dark Web, the latter plays a different role to what my background research implied. As elaborated throughout this research paper, various themes arose from the data gathering evaluation, which led to various conclusions that will be discussed in the following chapters. Themes such as bias in statistics, unreported cases, and the need for international collaboration in police operations, were important elements that stood out in the evaluation process. All these factors were essential in establishing whether there is indeed a correlation between the Dark Web and human trafficking.