The definition of biometric trafficking is the pervasive use of biometrics in human exploitation of individuals and groups of people. This article sets to define biometric trafficking, so that it’s damages are evaluated. Advocates against human trafficking need to understand the pervasive transmission of biometric trafficking, which includes the size of the entities involve, the amount of biometric information harvested, and the effort to control an individual. Researchers of human trafficking states that the use of technology has increased the amount of human trafficking cases (OurRescue, 2025).
1) The Meaning of Pervasive with Respect to the Number of People Involved
Within the definition of biometric trafficking, pervasive means that several people are involved in circulating biometric information for the purpose ofexploiting an individual or groups of people. This includes the number of people who has access to an individual’s biometric information without that individual’s knowledge or consent. The scope is relative to the effort in obtaining control over a person either through the manipulation of the person’s consent, their emotions, their bodily behaviors, their organs, or how the individual interacts with other people.
2) The Meaning of Pervasive with Respect to the Scope of Biometric Information Harvested through Multiple Sources
For instance, real time geolocation of an individual is being gathered and circulated with other people. Pervasive also involves the scope of biometric surveillance. As an example, in addition to the real time geolocation of an individual, other biometric information such as physical traits like appearance and likeness are transmitted surreptitiously. A single instance of biometric privacy breach to access personal accounts does not constitute biometric trafficking because it is not pervasive in scope. While several people having access to an individual’s account and greater attempts to harvest more biometric information such as geolocation is considered biometric trafficking.
3) The Meaning of Pervasice with Respect to the Number of Type of Biometric Information Gathered
Pervasive also include the number of type of biometric information that is being gathered. The types of biometrics that can be gathered has yet to be defined. Movement, typing speed, vein patterns, eye movement, the list can be extensive, and all can be gathered, stored, and circulated without the individual’s knowledge and have its use in manipulating an individual’s consent. The scope of pervasiveness requires further investigation. Exploitation herecan mean how biometrics can be used to manipulate an individual’s or group’s of peoples consent. Exploitation includes “sexual exploitaion, forced laboror services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal, manipulation or implantation of organs.” This quote is taken from the “UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.” CBTA has adopted the United Nations meaning of exploitation and human trafficking because the pervasiveness of biometric trafficking can be transmitted internationally. Biometric is used to transgress an individual physical and mental bounderies and gives access to an individual’s consent. This show that there is a need to protect an individual’s biometric information. This definition of biometric trafficking is useful forpolicy makers and to identify the illegal use of biometric and biometric surveillance.
4) Conclusion
Pervasive therefore means the scope of the people involved, the amount of biometric information harvested, and the number of surveillance technology used. Understanding the pervasiveness of biometric trafficking allows us to understand how consent be forced with enough biometric information. In the past, privacy breaches usually amounted to leaked accounts such as emails or bank accounts. However, being aware of the pervasiveness of biometric trafficking gives an estimate of the actual damages caused by biometric violations, which results in trafficking.
Citation: https://ourrescue.org/resources/sex-trafficking/human-trafficking/human-trafficking-statistics/economics-of-human-trafficking