INV-Network is at the 2025 NW ICAC Conference

Traffickers continue to exploit technology with increasing sophistication-leveraging social media, online gaming platforms, messaging apps and encrypted communication to recruit, groom, and control victims. In this session, a former ICAC detective and a social worker with extensive anti-trafficking experience will walk participants through real-world cases that demonstrate how digital evidence, when paired with trauma-informed, multidisciplanary teamwork, can significantly improve case outcomes. 

This session is grounded in the philosophy that both effective investigations and successful rosecutions require than just technical skill - they require a comprehensive, collaborative approach that centers survivor experience and well-being. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how to leverage tools like open source intelligence, data analysis platforms, image and file extraction tools, and app mapping to uncover patterns of trafficking, control, and exploitation. Participants will also examine what kinds of digital evidence are overlooked, how to spot indicators of coercion and force online, and how investigators and advocates can work together to interpret behavior through a trauma informed process. 

The presenters will explore how the early integration of victim advocacy and social services can shape the course of an investigation- building survival trust, increasing participation, and ultimately leading to stronger outcomes both in court and recovery. The session will break down common barriers between investigative and advocacy roles, offering concrete strategies for improving communication, sharing information appropriately, and creating a united front that supports victims while holding traffickers accountable.