Blackmail

There are many myths that persist about human trafficking. It’s often assumed that people who are sold for sex are victimized by physical intimidation or are held behind a locked door, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Psychological intimidation is often just as powerful as physical restraints.

Blackmail is often used to trick people into or trap them further in sexual exploitation.

We have seen examples of women forced to be naked or have sex on camera, and that footage is then used to trap them into sexual exploitation. Images or videos can easily be shared online to the world or, perhaps most devastatingly, directly with the victim’s family.

We have also seen cases of blackmail being used online to draw young women into a web of trafficking. Photos obtained through tricks or through seemingly legitimate means on apps or social media sites can be sold or held ransom for money from victims. There doesn’t even need to be an in-person meeting for this type of exploitation to happen. Offenders can exploit and profit from sexual abuse imagery without ever having met their victims. Blackmail is a way of gaining psychological control of a victim. Control is essential to human trafficking. Just like with a physical threat, blackmail makes the victim feel that there is no other choice.

The good news is that law enforcement is actively fighting back against this threat. Victims are being identified and perpetrators are being brought to justice. LIFT works in partnership with law enforcement to stop these types of crimes. Our unique technical and technological expertise can shed light on these crimes and bring freedom for victims of exploitation and blackmail.