Missouri Launches Anti-Trafficking App Ahead of FIFA World Cup in Kansas City
Missouri deploys AI-powered app to combat expected surge in human trafficking during FIFA World Cup, showing 1200% increase in victim identification in first year.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — Missouri officials have partnered with a nonprofit organization to deploy a new anti-trafficking mobile application ahead of the FIFA World Cup, as law enforcement prepares for an anticipated increase in human trafficking during the major sporting event.
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced the partnership with Safe House Project, a nonprofit that has developed the Simply Report app to help the public report suspicious activity to law enforcement. The app uses artificial intelligence to analyze submitted reports and identify potential trafficking cases.
App Shows Significant Results in First Year
The Simply Report application has been available for one year and has already produced substantial increases in victim identification. Safe House Project CEO Kristi Wells reported dramatic improvements in their organization’s ability to serve trafficking victims.
“Within three months we saw a 371-percent increase in the number of victims identified and served by our organization and after 10 months we had a 1200-percent,” Wells said.
Wells explained that the app allows people to report concerns without requiring extensive knowledge of trafficking indicators. “Everybody has a gut instinct, and there are times where we see something where we just aren’t confident, but we are concerned. And so the beautiful thing about using Simply Report is that they can share the suspicions and the things they’re seeing and they don’t have to know everything to report,” Wells said.
Missouri Ranks High in National Trafficking Statistics
Missouri faces significant human trafficking challenges, according to state data. A 2023 report from the Missouri Statewide Council on Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children, citing analysis of 2021 data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, found that “As recent as 2020, Missouri had the fourth highest incidence rate of human trafficking at 4.32 per 100,000 people.”
The state’s Director of Anti-Trafficking Operations, Diana Haines, emphasized the attorney general’s commitment to addressing the issue. “Catherine Hanaway is committed to protecting victims and preventing exploitation,” Haines said. “The attorney general will always work to get every tool available into the hands of law enforcement to catch traffickers and hold them accountable.”
Partnership Extends Beyond World Cup
Missouri becomes the fifth state to partner with Safe House Project for the Simply Report initiative. Officials indicated the partnership will continue after the World Cup concludes, establishing a permanent tool for combating human trafficking in the state.
Large events like the World Cup are known to experience increased human trafficking activity, prompting law enforcement agencies to implement proactive measures. The app provides a direct reporting mechanism for citizens who observe suspicious behavior but may be uncertain whether to contact authorities.
The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of visitors to host cities across the United States, including Kansas City, creating conditions that trafficking organizations often exploit. Missouri’s early deployment of the reporting system aims to establish monitoring capabilities before the event begins.
