Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics

Cuma Ali Özbek

TR EN

Etik Yapay Zekâ ve Büyük Veri Analitiği ile İnsan Ticareti Mağdurlarının Tespitine Yönelik Politika Modeli Önerisi

Abstract

İnsan ticareti mağdurlarının tespit edilmesinde karşılaşılan yapısal verimsizlikler; bilhassa öznel insan muhakemesine duyulan bağımlılık ve kurumlar arası koordinasyonun sınırlı olması, mevcut politikaların etkinliğini önemli ölçüde sekteye uğratmaktadır. Bu çalışma, söz konusu eksiklikleri ulusal bir bağlamda değerlendirmek amacıyla Politika Süreç Modeli'ni temel alan nitel bir doküman analizi yaklaşımını benimsemektedir. Resmi veriler üzerinde yapılan incelemeler, gerçekleştirilen potansiyel görüşme sayısının yüksekliğine karşın doğrulanan mağdur tespitlerinin düşüklüğü arasındaki belirgin tutarsızlığı ortaya koymakta; bu durum, geleneksel kimlik tespiti yöntemlerindeki kritik bir zafiyete işaret etmektedir. Bu doğrultuda çalışma, Etik Yapay Zekâ ve Büyük Veri Analitiği entegrasyonu aracılığıyla kanıta dayalı politika geliştirme sürecine geçilmesini önermektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, yapay zekâ modellemesi ile desteklenen analizlerin, kurumlar arası işleyişte güvenilirliği ve tutarlılığı artırmanın yanı sıra; sıkı bir etik denetim altında uygulandığında mağdur haklarının korunması adına güçlü bir çerçeve sunduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics

Abstract

Structural inefficiencies in identifying victims of human trafficking, particularly reliance on subjective human judgment and limited institutional coordination, significantly impact the effectiveness of current policies. This study adopts a qualitative document analysis approach using the Policy Process Model to assess these gaps within a national context. The examination of official data shows a significant inconsistency between the high number of potential interviews and the low number of confirmed victim diagnoses, highlighting a critical failure in traditional identification methods. In contrast, the study proposes a transition to policy development through the integration of ethical artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The findings show that AI modeling-supported analytics not only provides greater reliability and consistency in inter-institutional operations but also offers a robust framework for protecting victim rights when applied with strict ethical oversight.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

In this study, no data were collected from participants through surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, experiments, or other qualitative research techniques. No experiments were conducted on humans or animals. The study fully complies with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data. As the corresponding author, I confirm that all co-authors have been informed regarding this declaration, and I hereby declare that this research does not require approval from an ethics committee.

References

Arslan, C. (2004). İnsan ticareti suçu (TCK Md. 201/B). Türk İdare Dergisi , (443), 151–187.
Avrupa Konseyi. (2019). GRETA: Avrupa Konseyi İnsan Ticaretine Karşı Eylem Sözleşmesi'nin Türkiye tarafından uygulanmasına ilişkin rapor: Birinci değerlendirme turu (GRETA(2019)11). GRETA.https://rm.coe.int/report-concerning-the-implementation-of-the-council-of-europe-conventi/1680981563
Council of Europe. (2019). Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Turkey: First evaluation round (GRETA(2019)13). Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.https://rm.coe.int/greta-2019-13-fgr-tur-en/168097f5ef
Council of Europe. (2024a). Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA): Country monitoring – Türkiye . Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law.https://www.coe.int/en/web/anti-human-trafficking/turkiye
Council of Europe. (2024b). Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Türkiye: Second evaluation round (GRETA(2024)13). Council of Europe.https://rm.coe.int/greta-evaluation-report-on-the-implementation-of-the-council-of-europe/1680b20b66
CoMensha. (2022). Nature and extent of human trafficking in the Netherlands: Annual report. Coordination Center against Human Trafficking. https://www.comensha.nl/
Council of Europe. (2020). 10th general report on GRETA’s activities: 10 years of monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. https://rm.coe.int/10th-general-report-greta-activities-en/1680a1efb
Derince, Z., & Özgen, B. (2015). Eylem araştırması. N. Bayyurt (Ed.), Nitel araştırma: Yöntem, teknik, analiz ve yaklaşımları içinde. Anı Yayıncılık.

Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü. (2020). İnsan ticareti .https://www.egm.gov.tr/insan-ticareti
Europol. (2025). European Union serious and organized crime threat assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025: The changing DNA of serious and organized crime . Publications Office of the European Union.https://www.europol.europa.eu/publication-events/main-reports/changing-dna-of-serious-and-organised-crime
Family Counselors Association. (2020). Empowering civil society organizations in identification and support of trafficking victims in Turkey: Final project summary. Family Counselors Association Publications.
Farrell, A., & Pfeffer, R. (2014). Policing human trafficking: Cultural blinders and organizational barriers. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , 653 (1), 46–64.https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716213515835
Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü. (2020a, 10 Aralık). Kolluk kuvvetlerine yönelik çevirimiçi seminerler . Avrupa Konseyi.
Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü. (2020b). Türkiye'nin insan ticaretiyle mücadelesi .https://www.goc.gov.tr/turkiyenin-insan-ticaretiyle-mucadelesi
Gül, H. (2015). Kamu politikası analizi, yöntemleri and teknikleri. Yasama Dergisi , (30), 5–31. Human Resource Development Foundation. (2016). A decade of protection: Direct assistance to victims of trafficking in Turkey (Evaluation report 2003–2015). HRDF Publications.
Iglesias-Vergara, R. (2025). A latent class analysis to identify typologies of human trafficking victims: The control-intensity spectrum. Revista Científica General José María Córdova , 859–882.
International Labor Organization. (2012). ILO indicators of forced labor . International Labor Organization.https://www.ilo.org/publications/ilo-indicators-forced-labour International Labor Organization, Walk Free, & International Organization for Migration. (2022). Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labor and forced marriage . International Labor Organization.https://doi.org/10.54394/CHUI5986
International Center for Migration Policy Development. (2013). Research report: Current anti-trafficking response in Turkey and the way forward. ICMPD. https://www.icmpd.org/publications/reports
International Organization for Migration. (2020). IOM handbook on direct assistance for victims of trafficking. International Organization for Migration.https://publications.iom.int/books/iom-handbook-direct-assistance-victims-trafficking
International Organization for Migration. (2021). Supporting Türkiye's efforts to combat human trafficking and promoting access to justice for victims: Narrative project overview. IOM Türkiye.
International Organization for Migration. (2022). Direct assistance and voluntary return operations for victims of trafficking: Global data report. https://doi.org/10.54394/CHUI5986
Kleemans, E. R., & Smit, M. (2014). Human smuggling, human trafficking, and exploitation in the sex industry. In L. Paoli (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of organized crime (pp. 381–401). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199730445.013.011
Kulaç, O., & Çalhan, HS (2013). Bir kamu politikası süreci analizi: Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı ve Yükseköğretim Kurulu yurtdışı lisansüstü bursları. Dicle Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi , (9), 2.
Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. Journal of Social Issues , 2 (4), 34–46.
Lugo-Graulich, K., Meyer, L., Souza, K., Tapp, SN, Maryfield, B., & Bostwick, L. (2024). Improving sex trafficking victim identification: Indicators of trafficking in online escort ads. Journal of Human Trafficking .https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/improving-sex-trafficking-victim-identification-indicators-trafficking-online
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. (nd). Combating trafficking in human beings . Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved September 11, 2026, fromhttps://www.mfa.gov.tr/combating-trafficking-in-human-beings.en.mfa
Murnan, A., Tscholl, J., Ganta, R., Duah, H., Qasem, I., & Sezgin, E. (2023). Identification of child survivors of sex trafficking from electronic health records: An artificial intelligence guided approach. Journal of Human Trafficking, 438-445.
Obokata, T. (2012a). [Review of the book The international law of human trafficking, by A. Gallagher]. Human Rights Law Review, 12 (3), 606–608. https://doi.org/10.1093/hrlr/ngs006
Obokata, T. (2012b). Trafficking of human beings from a human rights perspective: Towards a holistic approach. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004214477
Palermo Protocol. (2000). Sınıraşan örgütlü suçlara karşı BM sözleşmesi. https://masak.hmb.gov.tr/palermo-konvansiyonu
Presidency of Migration Management. (2023). Victim support services and referral system in Türkiye. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Interior. https://en.goc.gov.tr/fight-against-human-trafficking
Sagut, R. (2020, 23 Ekim). İnsan ticaretiyle mücadele hepimizin mücadelesi (AK Ekibi, Röportajı Yapan). Avrupa Konseyi.https://www.coe.int/tr/web/ankara/-/chief-public-prosecutor-of-the-turkish-court-of-cassation-r-fat-sagut-we-all-are-in-this-together-when-it-comes-to-the-action-against-trafficking-in-h
Salt, J. (2000). Trafficking and human smuggling: A European perspective. International Migration, 38 (3), 31–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2435.00114
Shelley, L. (2010). Human trafficking: A global perspective. Cambridge University Press.https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511760419
Sironi, A., Bauloz, C., & Emmanuel, M. (Eds.). (2019). Glossary on migration (International Migration Law, No. 34). International Organization for Migration.https://publications.iom.int/books/international-migration-law-ndeg34-glossary-migration
TC Dışişleri Bakanlığı. (2026). Türkiye'nin insan ticaretiyle mücadelesi. https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye_nin-insan-ticaretiyle-mucadelesi-.tr.mfa
TC İçişleri Bakanlığı Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü. (2019). İnsan ticaretiyle mücadele yıllık raporu. İnsan Ticareti Mağdurlarını Koruma Dairesi Başkanlığı.https://www.goc.gov.tr/kurumlar/goc.gov.tr/Yayinlar/KitapcikRaporlar/2019_I%CC%87nsan_Ticaretiyle_Mu%CC%88cadele_Yillik_Raporu.pdf
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi. (2003). Sınıraşan örgütlü suçlara karşı Birleşmiş Milletler sözleşmesine ek insan ticaretinin, özellikle kadın ve çocuk ticaretinin önlenmesine, durdurulmasına ve cezalandırılmasına ilişkin protocol onaylanmasının uygun bulunduğuna dair kanun (Kanun No. 4804). Resmi Gazete.https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/kanunlar/k4804.html
Uluslararası Göçpolitikaları Geliştirme Merkezi (ICMPD). (2013). Türkiye'de insan ticareti ile mücadele ve ilerisi araştırma raporu . ICMPD.https://www.icmpd.org/admin/content/download/52552/file/Research%20Report%20%20Current%20Antitrafficking%20Response%20in%20Turkey%20and%20the%20Way%20Forward_TR.pdf?inLanguage=eng-GB
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2013). Issue paper: Abuse of a position of vulnerability and other “means” within the definition of trafficking in persons . United Nations.https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/2012/UNODC_2012_Issue_Paper_-_Abuse_of_a_Position_of_Vulnerability.pdf
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2022). Global report on trafficking in persons 2022 . United Nations.https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/glotip.html
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2024). Global report on trafficking in persons 2024 (Sales No. E.24.XI.11). United Nations.https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2024/GLOTIP2024_BOOK.pdf
United States Department of State. (2017-2025). Trafficking in persons report . Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
US Department of State. (2025). 2025 trafficking in persons report: Türkiye . [suspicious link removed] van der Leun, J., & van Schijndel, A. (2016). Emerging from the shadows or pushed into the dark? The relationship between the combat against trafficking in human beings and migration control. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice , 44 , 26–42.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2015.04.001
Van Rij, J. (2017). Human trafficking and sexual exploitation: An exploratory study into the use of predictive policing . European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).https://www.cepol.europa.eu/api/assets/41-jorn-van-rij.pdf

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Gender, Policy and Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Cuma Ali Özbek ^*
0000-0003-0587-3751
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 28, 2026

Submission Date

March 9, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özbek, C. A. (2026). Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, 11(2), 115-129. https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK

AMA

1.Özbek CA. Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics. JTSSR. 2026;11(2):115-129. https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK

Chicago

Özbek, Cuma Ali. 2026. “Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics”. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi 11 (2): 115-29. https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK.

EndNote

Özbek CA (October 1, 2026) Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi 11 2 115–129.

IEEE

[1]C. A. Özbek, “Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics”, JTSSR, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 115–129, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK

ISNAD

Özbek, Cuma Ali. “Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics”. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi 11/2 (October 1, 2026): 115-129. https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK.

JAMA

1.Özbek CA. Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics. JTSSR. 2026;11:115–129.

MLA

Özbek, Cuma Ali. “Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics”. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, vol. 11, no. 2, Oct. 2026, pp. 115-29, https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK.

Vancouver

1.Cuma Ali Özbek. Towards a Policy Model for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking through Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics. JTSSR [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;11(2):115-29. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA62WX68BK