Improvements in AI technology have given law enforcement a whole new set of tools to use in trying to identify and stop various forms of modern slavery. However, according to a recent article in Foreign Policy, AI is a tool that cuts both ways. AI has helped uncover trafficking that previously would have gone undetected. But it has also swept innocent people into the mix, negatively impacting their lives.  

Normal or not normal? AI will tell you 

ThetaRay is an AI-powered financial crime detection company that uses AI to spot patterns. When something falls outside those patterns it may point to a crime being committed. Recently, a bank used ThetaRay to analyze the regular payments being made by customers. The AI flagged unusual activity on a particular bank customer’s account. That flag ultimately uncovered a human trafficking network. 

ThetaRay CEO Peter Reynolds said: 

“By understanding what is normal, AI will then very quickly tell you what’s not normal, and that thing that doesn’t look normal is potentially crime.” 

However, banks monitor and analyze millions of transactions. And while some anomalies may point to crime, not all deviations are criminal. Websites that can be used to sell cars, computers, and more may also sell genuine adult services not connected to modern slavery or exploitation. That’s why, while acknowledging the potential, some are raising the alarm. And collecting data on marginalized populations and automating decisions can lead to unintentional harm, say human rights organizations and survivors. 

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