Carnegie Mellon Graduate Develops Technology to Combat Human Trafficking

While working on her senior thesis, Carnegie Mellon University graduate, Emily Kennedy developed data analysis software that is proving successful in combatting human trafficking. She has since started her own company, Marinus Analytics, where she further develops data analysis software to save trafficking victims. Many girls and women are sold for sex through online advertisements, and strategic traffickers use prepaid credit cards and cell phones that are not connected with their true identities to avoid being caught. Kennedy’s program, “Traffic Jam” is a type of data analysis software that works to track patterns to link identities with traffickers who post Internet advertisements. The software traces prepaid credit cards and cell phone numbers, along with the location of where the advertisement is posted, to reveal the identity of the poster, and essentially identify traffickers. Many law enforcement agencies have been using Traffic Jam to aid in their investigations, including Pittsburg’s FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Utah’s Office of the Attorney General, the San Antonio Police Department and the Modesto Police Department in California. To date, Traffic Jam has helped over 120 victims. Marinus Analytics’ work has been recognized through awards from UpPrize, National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program, and federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).