The Dark Side of Silicon Valley: The Online Slave Market

🚫Google and Apple apps are being used to facilitate the illegal online slave trade of domestic workers in the Gulf.

🌍The online slave market is not limited to the Gulf region, as similar trade is also happening in other countries such as Saudi Arabia.

💰The sale of domestic workers generates profits for both the traffickers and the tech giants hosting the apps.

👩‍👧The online slave trade includes the exploitation and sale of underage girls, further highlighting the severity of the issue.

💻Google, Apple, and other tech companies have policies against human trafficking and modern slavery, but their platforms are still being used for these purposes.

How are Google and Apple involved in the online slave market?

—Google and Apple apps are being used to host and promote apps that facilitate the sale of domestic workers, making them complicit in the online slave market.

Why is the online slave market unregulated?

—The online slave market is unregulated due to the lack of strict enforcement of laws and regulations by governments.

What is the impact of the online slave market on domestic workers?

—The online slave market exposes domestic workers to exploitation, abuse, and the violation of their human rights.

What is being done to address the issue of the online slave market?

—Awareness campaigns, investigations, and pressure on tech companies are being used to expose and combat the online slave market.

How can individuals help in the fight against the online slave market?

—Individuals can support advocacy groups, contribute to campaigns, and raise awareness about the online slave market to help combat this issue.

00:23Women employed as domestic workers in the Gulf are being sold on an online slave market facilitated by Google and Apple apps.

03:20Ann Abunda, founder of Sandigan, fights for the welfare and rights of domestic workers in Kuwait.

12:11Ann was previously arrested for helping domestic workers escape abusive households.

20:31Ann attempts to contact the family of a 16-year-old domestic worker named Fatou who was trafficked from Guinea.

39:56Nasser al-Mousawi, Head of the Domestic Workers Office in Kuwait, deals with complaints and disputes between domestic workers and employers.

43:48Despite legal protections, domestic workers are still being bought and sold in Kuwait in violation of the law.

48:33Strict regulations and enforcement are needed to address the online slave market and protect domestic workers.

49:02Google, Apple, and Facebook must be held accountable for hosting apps that facilitate the online slave market.