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Using Machine Learning to Fight Crime Posted on : Sep 23 - 2017

In recent months, University of California programmers received a significant amount of attention for their work on a tool that helps determine if persons advertised online for sex are linked to larger organizations dabbling in human trafficking.

Using a two-pronged approach, researchers investigated the advertisements for sex workers appearing in Backpage—a site advertising a variety of services, some of which are illegal. First, the programmers were tasked with determining if a person was advertising their sex services voluntarily or by force. And second, the programmers attempted to make connections among the different advertisements. But, because Backpage can have hundreds if not thousands of new ads to review each day, how were the programmers able to accomplish this?

Machine Learning

Machine learning, which involves computer programs that teach themselves using quantities of data, is commonly used by technology companies such as Google, Apple and Netflix. The same technology that recommends movies to you on Netflix or that determines the order of results when searching for a term in Google is the very same technology being used to help fight crimes, both large and small. To simplify, machine learning looks for patterns.

Sex Crimes

Because machine learning can sort through impossible quantities of data, it can be applied to both solving crimes and, possibly, preventing them. Going back to the example of sex workers advertising on Backpage, it is thought that sex workers work relatively anonymously, advertising their wares just under the nose of law enforcement. However, sex workers who advertise online leave a digital trail behind.

The University of California programmers applied machine learning algorithms to the data from these digital trails to distinguish between persons advertising their services by force or by consent, concentrating on seemingly innocuous details. View More