§1862w Nsf Support of Research on Impacts of Social Media on Human Trafficking

Summary

The Director of the National Science Foundation must fund peer-reviewed, competitive research on how online social media platforms affect the growth or persistence of human trafficking (human trafficking as defined in 22 U.S.C. 7102(11)). A "social media platform" means a website or online service where people can register, make an account or profile, create and share content, and interact with content made by others. The research can include work on digital forensic tools to check if users or posts are real, privacy-preserving tools that help law enforcement identify traffickers, social and behavioral studies of users who engage with traffickers, studies of public awareness and law enforcement efforts, and projects coordinated with other federal programs and groups, including the Information Integrity Research and Development Interagency Working Group, the Privacy Research and Development Interagency Working Group of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, the Office for Victims of Crime (Department of Justice), the Blue Campaign (Department of Homeland Security), the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Department of State), activities of the Department of Transportation, and the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. When possible, the Director must make sure research includes the experiences and safety and privacy concerns of trafficking survivors. Within 1 year after January 5, 2023, the Director must report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House; and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House about feasibility of research partnerships with social media companies and recommendations to improve coordination. Within 4 years after January 5, 2023, the Director must report the research results to the same committees.