MEP Javier Zarzalejos, Rev. William Kenney CP and José Luis Bazán at the European Parliament during the event on AI and Human Trafficking. (Photo: Office of MEP Zarzalejos)
Together with the Santa Marta Group, COMECE organised the conference “Artificial Intelligence and Human Trafficking: Threats, Tools, and Legal Frontiers”, held at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, 30 September 2025. The event was hosted by MEP Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spain).
The conference examined how human trafficking is increasingly driven by technology, with perpetrators exploiting social media algorithms, encrypted messaging platforms, deepfakes, and virtual currencies to recruit, manipulate, and profit from victims.
The event was an opportunity to discuss and analyse how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help detect patterns, disrupt trafficking networks, and support victim rescue. Panellists noted, however, that these innovations bring legal and operational challenges, as EU legislation — strongly protective of citizens’ privacy and identity — sets clear limits on the use of AI by law enforcement authorities.
The event featured contributions from Javier Zarzalejos (MEP), Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto (Secretary General of COMECE), Rev. William Kenney CP (Member of the Santa Marta Group), Ilias Chatzis (Chief of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC), José Luis Bazán (Adviser to COMECE), Zsuzsanna Felkai Janssen (Office of the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator), and Irina Orssich (Head of Governance and Regulatory Policy Sector, DG CNECT, European Commission).
COMECE has long been committed to addressing the issue of human trafficking, supporting its victims, and advocating at the European level for stronger and more effective action against this crime. Fighting human trafficking is the main mission of the Santa Marta Group. If you would like to learn more about its actions and initiatives, click here.