Bill Overview
Title: Human Trafficking Online Research Act
Description: This bill directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the impact of online social media platforms on the maintenance or expansion of human trafficking.
Sponsors: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: People using online social media platforms that can be potentially impacted by human trafficking activities
Estimated Size: 230000000
- Human trafficking is a global issue, affecting numerous countries, transcending borders, and cultures. This issue has many layers and dimensions including victims, perpetrators, and those indirectly affected.
- Estimates provided by the International Labour Organization suggest that there are 25 million victims of human trafficking globally.
- Online platforms are becoming increasingly utilized in the recruitment and exploitation phases of human trafficking, making everyone who uses these platforms a potential target, but primarily those who are vulnerable such as young people and those in socio-economically disadvantaged situations.
- Human trafficking doesn't just affect victims directly; it has a broader social impact, affecting families of victims, law enforcement, communities, NGOs working to counter trafficking, and policymakers.
- Research supported by this Act may influence international strategies and collaborations to combat trafficking, potentially impacting large groups involved in global anti-trafficking efforts.
- The majority of social media users can be indirectly impacted as the research could lead to policy changes that affect how these platforms operate to prevent trafficking.
Reasoning
- The budget is constrained, so the impact must be gauged alongside the wide scale of social media users in the U.S.
- The policy doesn't directly change individual circumstances but funds research that might eventually do so, influencing results over longer timeframes indirectly.
- The population affected by human trafficking is diverse, requiring many perspectives. This includes victims, social media users, and those working in prevention or law enforcement.
- Evaluating impact on a minor scale initially is vital since the policy's early phase focuses on research rather than direct action, which skews toward indirect benefits or disadvantages.
Simulated Interviews
NGO worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help develop key insights that aid in preventing trafficking.
- Research outputs may improve our tactics in outreach and aid distribution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Tech Industry Professional (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have concerns about the impact on platform privacy policies.
- Increased regulation or research focus could lead to tighter security measures, which I support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The impacts might take time, but I feel safer knowing the issues are being studied.
- Hoping for changes in how platforms tackle misinformation and improve safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Law Enforcement Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved research could enhance our investigative approaches.
- Potential for better collaboration with tech companies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Influencer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Glad that findings might increase awareness among users.
- Hopeful that platforms will introduce tighter controls based on research outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Social Worker (Rural Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that bring research to light may result in better educational resources.
- Rural areas face unique challenges, so applicable outcomes are critical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
High School Graduate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If effective, might make me feel safer about my online presence.
- Could influence how young people interact on social media.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Data Analyst (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Research might lead to better protective measures on platforms.
- Hopes findings will push for stringent data ethics policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Educator (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Findings might be invaluable for developing better teaching materials.
- Potential changes in platform management could enhance student safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Policy Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investing in research is crucial for crafting effective policies.
- This act is a step in the right direction for synchronized, informed law-making.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $27000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $33000000)
Year 3: $29000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $35000000)
Year 5: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $36000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The National Science Foundation's operational capabilities in handling additional research initiatives and funding allocation.
- Integration of multidisciplinary approaches to effectively study the complex issue of online human trafficking.
- Adequacy of funding to attract leading researchers and comprehensive research projects.
- Potential for international collaborations and cross-border sharing of findings.
- Effective dissemination of research findings to inform policy and legislation on human trafficking.