The Nexus Between Major Events and Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a crime involving the “use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel an individual to work or to engage in a commercial sex act.” Human trafficking is the world’s second-largest criminal industry, with an estimated annual revenue of more than $246 billion. For years, human trafficking has been associated with major events like the Super Bowl or Comic Con. While there is no data firmly supporting a nexus between major events and an increase in human trafficking, the full scope of the problem is largely unknown. This article examines why major events are linked to human trafficking and suggests best practices for communities to combat it during and after such events.

Examining Increased Demand

The National Football League (NFL) is arguably America’s favorite sports league, with viewership significantly higher than any other sports league in the country. Over 20 million people tuned in to watch the first game of the 2024 NFL season, and in-person attendance last season exceeded 90,000 at a single game. Although there is no evidence to suggest the number of victims of human trafficking increases during major events like the Super Bowl, large crowds at such events are often linked to an increase in demand for commercial sex.

Similar to other industries, the crime of human trafficking – particularly commercial sex trafficking – is driven by supply and demand. Studies indicate that demand for commercial sex is primarily driven by male buyers with incomes exceeding $100,000 per year. While Super Bowl attendees may fit this demographic, data linking major events directly to an increased demand for commercial sex remains inconclusive.

A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, acknowledging the challenge in accurately measuring the impact of a large event on human trafficking, analyzed fluctuations in online sex advertisements with the assumption such advertisements are directly related to fluctuations in sex trafficking (i.e., when more advertisements are posted, more trafficking occurs). The researchers assessed over 30 large-scale public events – chosen for attendance levels comparable to the Super Bowl – and reviewed the volume of online escort or sex advertisements targeting the respective areas where the events took place between 2011 and 2016. They determined that most of the large-scale events assessed were not associated with a significant increase in posted sex-work advertising.

In a more recent study, researchers reviewed trends in online sex advertisements, specifically in Florida, during the 2020 and 2021 Super Bowls. In addition to hosting more Super Bowls than any other state, Florida has reported the third largest number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline since 2013. Like the study described above, researchers reviewed the fluctuation of online sex advertisements with the assumption that such advertisements are directly related to trafficking. The study concluded that there was a “significant uptick” in online sex advertisements around the 2020 and 2021 Super Bowls. While the study confirms an uptick in ads, it also notes that it does not clearly establish a direct connection between the Super Bowl and increased trafficking because of the “unquantifiable number of fake ads that are commonly placed by law enforcement officials and anti-trafficking organizations to derail criminal activity.”

Providing a Spotlight on the Issue

Given the large number of fans who watch and attend the Super Bowl and other major events, the NFL and other organizations provide a great opportunity to raise awareness about human trafficking.

As indicated by recent reports from It’s a Penalty, an organization that runs human trafficking awareness campaigns around major events, “public education and awareness campaigns play a vital role in increasing public understanding of child safeguarding and protection from abuse and exploitation.” For the Las Vegas Super Bowl last year, It’s a Penalty launched a survivor-focused campaign aiming to combat human trafficking and exploitation. The campaign rolled out around Las Vegas ahead of the Super Bowl, and 73% of people surveyed indicated the campaign raised their awareness of how to report suspected human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Shining a spotlight on human trafficking raises awareness not only during major events but also in everyday life. Greater awareness increases the likelihood of communities actively responding to the crime.

Everyday Best Practices for Combating Human Trafficking

It is still unknown whether large events cause an increase in human trafficking. However, one thing is certain: Human trafficking is a pervasive issue that occurs daily in communities across the United States. Awareness campaigns and enforcement efforts surrounding major events help provide a spotlight on the issue. Organizations and individuals can use this momentum to implement best practices to combat trafficking within their communities every day.

The first step is education. While many agencies offer human trafficking training – some of which is mandated by state law – recent studies show that training for law enforcement is uneven and, in some areas, nonexistent. Additionally, less than half of emergency medical services (EMS) workers surveyed have received training on the topic. Through education, communities can better understand how vulnerable populations are targeted by traffickers and recognize what factors, such as major events, can lead to the exploitation of those populations.

Based on available information from federal criminal human trafficking cases filed in 2023, the primary vulnerabilities for minor victims of trafficking are being a runaway (51.5%), in foster care (21%), a previous victim (18%), or financially insecure (15%). For adults, vulnerabilities include drug or substance abuse (51.6%), undocumented status (34%), financial insecurity (34%), being a runaway or homeless (25%), or previous victimization (23%). It is important to keep in mind that a victim may be vulnerable to trafficking for more than one reason, and their vulnerabilities may not be easily identifiable.

Adequate training and education empower communities to proactively combat trafficking daily. If not already established, communities should implement anti-trafficking training for frontline workers that emphasizes:

• Legal definitions of human trafficking
• The signs and indicators of human trafficking
• Local trafficking statistics
• At-risk population(s)
• Methods of recruitment, control, and coercion
• Common trafficking settings
• Proper communication techniques with potential victims

Communities should also develop and implement daily processes and procedures for reporting and responding to human trafficking. Simply identifying the problem without establishing proper response protocols is not only ineffective but can also exacerbate the issue. Frontline workers and those working with vulnerable populations, as described above, should know how to report suspected trafficking – either through the National Human Trafficking Hotline or by calling 911 to reach local law enforcement. Additionally, communities should ensure that frontline workers and practitioners are familiar with local service providers to address the needs of victims once identified. As with other emergency situations, well-established processes and procedures are essential for an effective response to trafficking. There are several action steps communities can take to proactively combat trafficking:

• Communities can develop toolkits with targeted outreach materials, policies, and contact information tailored to the specific needs of the community. These toolkits can help ensure that frontline workers know how to recognize signs of trafficking and steps to take in response.
• Promote public awareness campaigns not only during major events but year-round, including common phrases or tactics used by traffickers. These campaigns can target events or timeframes that present increased risks to vulnerable populations, such as before and during disasters. This information should be posted in hotels, motels, and relevant event spaces to ensure it reaches the at-risk population.
• Increase enforcement of human-trafficking laws to stop traffickers, protect victims, and deter future instances of trafficking in the community. Enforcement efforts may include operations to identify and recover potential victims, or to arrest and prosecute traffickers. Effective law enforcement action is an indispensable element of government efforts to fight human trafficking. When the risk to participating in crime is increased, the willingness to engage in criminal activity declines.

Conclusion

While the nexus between major events and an increase in human trafficking remains inconclusive, the issue itself is undeniable. Human trafficking is a pervasive crime that affects millions of individuals across the United States every day. The visibility of major events, such as the Super Bowl, provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize communities in the fight against trafficking. By prioritizing education, establishing effective response protocols, and promoting year-round awareness campaigns, communities can better protect vulnerable populations and combat trafficking in all its forms. The efforts made during these major events should serve as a catalyst for ongoing vigilance and proactive action to address human trafficking every day.