A Responsible Research and Innovation Approach to Assessing the Implications of Anti-Trafficking Technologies

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is crucial to address the risks associated with emerging technologies with the aim of minimising negative consequences and promoting positive outcomes. This article uses RRI principles and semi-structured interviews to examine the implications of tools designed to combat human trafficking. Although traffickers use technology to recruit and exploit victims, it also equips stakeholders, such as governments, policymakers, researchers, and anti-trafficking experts, to combat these crimes. This article focuses on the impact of anti-trafficking software systems that identify victims and human traffickers in the United States and the United Kingdom, highlighting the positive and negative consequences of such tools and proposing strategies to mitigate unintended negative consequences, thereby promoting the development of responsible anti-trafficking tools. In addition, this article demonstrates the practical implementation of RRI within the information and communication technology sector, with a specific focus on the evaluation of existing software systems.