In 2012, the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy will conduct the first in-depth study of technology and data-driven approaches to combat labor trafficking. Technology is playing an increasingly significant role in understanding and addressing labor trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation. The global digital landscape is marked by the rapid diffusion of online technologies, mobile, social media, data analytics, mapping, and GPS – even in less developed nations. A critical challenge for the field is the lack of evidence-based research on the relationship between technology and labor trafficking. Building an empirical base is essential for responsible decision-making and risk assessments, particularly in designing interventions for vulnerable populations.