Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) opened a hearing today focused on the use of technology to address human trafficking. The hearing, titled “Using Modern Tools to Counter Human Trafficking,” examined how technological advancements can both facilitate and help prevent this crime.
In her opening statement, Mace highlighted the widespread nature of human trafficking in the United States. She stated that "Human trafficking is not an abstract crime. It is happening right now—on the phones in our teenagers’ pockets, on the websites we scroll past without thinking, and in the hotel rooms just off the interstates which run through all of our districts all across the country." She noted that victims can be as young as twelve to fourteen years old when they are first trafficked.
Mace emphasized that while technology has enabled traffickers to operate more efficiently, it also provides new tools for law enforcement. She said, "Artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital forensics are no longer science fiction. They are recovering victims in hours instead of months, identifying networks once hidden in plain sight, and building courtroom-ready cases against predators who thought the internet made them untouchable."
Despite these advances, Mace pointed out challenges faced by law enforcement agencies. She explained that they receive over twenty million Cyber Tipline reports each year but often lack sufficient staffing and resources. Additionally, she mentioned that some well-intentioned efforts have inadvertently pushed trafficking further into less accessible parts of the internet.
Mace also criticized South Carolina’s attorney general Alan Wilson regarding his record on human trafficking cases: "According to South Carolina’s corrupt attorney general, Alan Wilson, in the state of South Carolina, a position he has held for sixteen years, human trafficking is up over four hundred percent, and he’s proud of it. It’s obscene. It’s disgusting. And, Alan, if you’re listening or watching this right now, I’ve got it coming for you."
She concluded by urging Congress to evaluate current laws and consider whether adequate funding and data-sharing authorities exist to support effective interventions. Mace said Congress should "remove bureaucratic roadblocks, fund proven solutions, and write smarter laws which actually protect the vulnerable," adding: "There is no issue more urgent, and there is no excuse for inaction."
The hearing aims to gather insights from witnesses about what strategies are working or failing in order to guide future legislative action.
