Two major problems in the anti-trafficking field are a lack of data
to quantify and track the problem in the US and in Thailand. The second is that
traffickers use technology every day to outsmart law enforcement, non-profit
organizations, government agencies and concerned citizens around the world. If
traffickers can use technology to run their illegal business, why can't we use
it for good - to thwart them and prevent human trafficking? We just have to be
as creative, relentless and savvy as these criminals. Enter RapidReportandResponse (R3), which uses
cell phone and SMS technology ubiquitous throughout the world. We want to make
it easy for everyday citizens to join the fight against traffickers and to
report and prevent human trafficking using devices with which they are totally
comfortable. In near real time, we will maphumantraffickingincidences and follow
their progress over time as SMS reports pinpoint suspected or actual
trafficking situations.
We will build a database that will accurately assesses the scope of
human trafficking in the United States and Thailand and in turn helps
government agencies allocate resources effectively. This will be the first time
technology will be used in such an aggressive way to stop this heinous crime.
Our technology can also be used to collect data on related criminal activity.
The key growth drivers are the number of agencies that buy our data and the
additional services required to analyze that data. These services include
predictive modeling, data mining and data management.
Data is the heart of our product. We have a web
platform to collect data and are building a database of prior cases to
understand where human trafficking has occurred in order to predict where it is
likely to occur in the future. Our database and technology ultimately decrease
human trafficking. It will also help NGOs and law enforcement 1) focus their
limited resources on particular geographic areas and limit duplication of
efforts, 2) raise public awareness about the scale and geographic concentration
of human trafficking, 3) create a factual, verifiable history of cases and
their resolutions, which does not currently exist in the United States, and ultimately
4) understand patterns and develop real time response capabilities. We also
believe our product can lead to unprecedented levels of community collaboration
and empowerment on this issue.