Misleading Sources: What are the signs?
One thing to note is that not all information which is not cited (or inaccurately cited) is bad information. However, without being able to verify it, it must be used cautiously. Part of the issue with statistics and data about human trafficking is that it is difficult to study. We are dealing with a hidden population which is difficult and frequently dangerous for researchers to access. Victims may be double counted by multiple agencies in certain areas, but not counted at all in others. That being said, there is a significant amount of "bad information" out there...
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to cite reliable sources when they're reporting statistics, maps, or graphs about human trafficking today. These are, admittedly, difficult to find because there is great variability between actual and projected numbers. The fact that human trafficking of every type occurs in the basest levels of society, in places where people do not want to be found, complicates information gathering greatly. Below is one example of a "Google certified" source on human trafficking. It is important to remember that when using Google as a search engine, its results are listed with priority to the most frequented sites rather than to the most relevant (aka accurate) sources! The blog below has :
- no contact information for the author
- no information about the author's credibility - or real identity. He hides behind his username, "RK VINOTH."
- his "About Me" tab links to a Justin Bieber song - and nothing else
- "citations" for the charts and graphs are included, but not able to be verified on the internet.
- outdated information. Statistics, for example,
"By 2010, Human Trafficking will be the # 1 crime worldwide. (Dept of State)"
What is wrong with this? The blogger joined blogger in 2011. He started his website with outdated, projected / estimated information for the future. Nothing appears to have been updated since 2011.
- information that does not seem to follow what other, credible sources have reported. For example, the picture to the left. This seems to report a giant jump in specifically male victims, however it cannot be found elsewhere online, the author refers to it erroneously when he says,
"seems to look like male trafficking is incerasing year by year.usually we can see young teenage guys are among the people who are trafficked.some fresh graduate are being ofered with good promises for an example to offer good post in overseas being brought to overseas and they are dumped into world of slavery.Some man are bring to work in the heavy labour division"
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to cite reliable sources when they're reporting statistics, maps, or graphs about human trafficking today. These are, admittedly, difficult to find because there is great variability between actual and projected numbers. The fact that human trafficking of every type occurs in the basest levels of society, in places where people do not want to be found, complicates information gathering greatly. Below is one example of a "Google certified" source on human trafficking. It is important to remember that when using Google as a search engine, its results are listed with priority to the most frequented sites rather than to the most relevant (aka accurate) sources! The blog below has :
- no contact information for the author
- no information about the author's credibility - or real identity. He hides behind his username, "RK VINOTH."
- his "About Me" tab links to a Justin Bieber song - and nothing else
- "citations" for the charts and graphs are included, but not able to be verified on the internet.
- outdated information. Statistics, for example,
"By 2010, Human Trafficking will be the # 1 crime worldwide. (Dept of State)"
What is wrong with this? The blogger joined blogger in 2011. He started his website with outdated, projected / estimated information for the future. Nothing appears to have been updated since 2011.
- information that does not seem to follow what other, credible sources have reported. For example, the picture to the left. This seems to report a giant jump in specifically male victims, however it cannot be found elsewhere online, the author refers to it erroneously when he says,
"seems to look like male trafficking is incerasing year by year.usually we can see young teenage guys are among the people who are trafficked.some fresh graduate are being ofered with good promises for an example to offer good post in overseas being brought to overseas and they are dumped into world of slavery.Some man are bring to work in the heavy labour division"
Edited by: Stacey Williams, 18 April, 2016