Addressing human trafficking in the digital era: Amendments to the EU anti-trafficking directive

This article examines the European Union’s legal response to the technological dimensions of the evolving crime of human trafficking, focusing on the digitalisation-related amendments to Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. It explores the factors driving the technological expansion of this crime and the legislative changes introduced in response, while emphasizing the importance of addressing the demand-driven nature of trafficking as a key preventive measure. The paper aims to demonstrate how the European Union, as a law-based community, is responding to the challenges posed by the digitalisation of this crime by amending its key legal framework against human trafficking.