From: Rane Johnson [mailto:ranej@microsoft.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 10:37 AM
To: Rane Johnson; Alethea Lodge-Clarke; Tony Hey; Lee Dirks
Cc: Samantha Doerr (LCA); danah boyd
Subject: Microsoft Research Connections announce RFP for the Role of Technology in Human Trafficking

As we spoke earlier this year, I made you aware of the work being done by danah boyd, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit and myself on human trafficking of minors—including the illegal trade of children and teens for commercial sexual exploitation in the United States.  We agree that this is a crime so vile that it makes most people shudder. But unfortunately, not everyone recoils: pedophiles and procurers have made the commercial sexual exploitation of children an international business, and there is little doubt that technology is increasingly playing a role in their criminal practices. Which is why today I am pleased to announce that Microsoft Research Connections is partnering with danah boyd, one of the top social media researchers from the Microsoft New England Research and Development Lab, and the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to investigate the implications of technology in this heinous crime.

You can read my blog post here

You can access the RFP here

You can access our human trafficking framework here

I hope you will share this with all researchers you know and I hope you will consider submitting a proposal.  We hope to make significant impact but need to start a rigorous academic community to help us truly understand the magnitude of the problem before we can create solutions that will make a lasting impact. 

Consider sharing :

Thank you,

Rane Johnson-Stempson

Education & Scholarly Communications Principal Research Director | Microsoft Research Connections | Cell +1.425.457.3665 | Office  +1.425.421-3447