Colombia’s digital risk: Addressing exploitation in tech platforms

The news: The combination of better internet services, popular US apps, and international tourism has fostered a dangerous ecosystem for exploitation and trafficking in Colombia. Tech companies' current protective measures are falling short of preventing systematic abuse.

Meta’s Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram dominate Colombia’s digital landscape, but they also serve as primary tools for traffickers to recruit, groom, and exploit minors, per Bloomberg. 

Putting platforms on notice: 52.3% of Colombian children live in monetary poverty, per UNICEF, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation. Engagement algorithms like “People You May Know” can expose vulnerable teens to predators, while encrypted messaging in popular apps hinders law enforcement.