Emojis and sex trafficking: SDSU researchers crack the code

Innocuous though they may seem, emojis, or the symbol-based form of communication -- such as hearts, crowns and cherries -- have been hijacked by those wishing to hawk sex trafficking services through online websites without detection. The link was recently uncovered by San Diego State University Information Systems Master's Program graduate Jessica Whitney and her thesis advisor Dr. Murray Jennex as they sought to further decode the language of sex traffickers, who communicate out in the open but in code -- particularly about underage victims -- in online dating forums offered by sites such as Craigslist and Backpage. Professor Jennex had worked with a different student two years ago to uncover common keywords used by online traffickers in ads, but he thought more could be done. The criminal behavior is difficult to measure yet widespread. Officials with the National Human Trafficking Hotline said that more than 7,500 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2016, with more than 1,300 cases reported in California alone.