The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaign and Lyft, Inc. announced today that over one million Lyft drivers in the United States and Canada can now access a tutorial program designed to help them detect and prevent human trafficking. This initiative builds on efforts from earlier this year during Super Bowl 2024, when Lyft provided resources to drivers in Las Vegas to help recognize signs of this crime. Human trafficking tends to increase during large-scale events due to the high volume of people and the anonymity such gatherings provide.
“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to bringing a whole-of-society approach to our counter-human trafficking mission,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “By partnering with key private sector leaders like Lyft – whose drivers interact with millions of riders every year – we are better able to shine a light on this heinous crime; identify, protect, and support victims; and bring perpetrators to justice. I am grateful for Lyft’s continued commitment to combating the scourge of human trafficking and encourage other stakeholders to join us in this critical work.”
“We are committed to working with DHS to help educate drivers about how to identify and report a possible crime if they suspect a rider is a victim or perpetrator of human trafficking,” said Ameena Gill, Vice President Safety and Customer Care at Lyft. “Our hope is that the driver community, which gives hundreds of millions of rides a year, can become an even greater force for good by helping identify these crimes and combat human trafficking.”
Over recent months, DHS and Lyft have collaborated on developing this first-of-its-kind tutorial for a ride-share company that features the Blue Campaign’s human trafficking resources in Lyft’s driver-only in-app Learning Center. The tutorial aims to raise awareness about human trafficking, teach drivers how to spot potential victims, and offer resources for assistance, including guidance on contacting authorities. DHS will continue providing resources and information across the passenger transportation service industry.
Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign housed within the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT). Established in 2010, Blue Campaign educates the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners on recognizing indicators of human trafficking and responding appropriately. The CCHT coordinates efforts among 16 DHS offices and components to combat human trafficking through law enforcement operations, victim protection and support, intelligence analysis, public education, and training programs.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is encouraged to report it anonymously online or by calling 866-347-2423. Individuals can also contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.
