Strengthening Protection for Victims of Online Human Trafficking in Indonesia

Abstract

Online-facilitated trafficking in persons has transformed recruitment, control, and exploitation, particularly against women and children. This article examines how Indonesian law protects victims of online trafficking and proposes a victim-centered digital protection model. Using normative juridical research with statutory, conceptual, and human rights approaches, this article analyzes Law No. 21 of 2007 on Trafficking in Persons, Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes, Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, Law no. 27 of 2022 on Personal Data Protection, Law No. 1 of 2024 on Electronic Information and Transactions, Presidential Regulation No. 19 of 2023, and international instruments. The article finds that Indonesia already has a relatively broad anti-trafficking framework, but victim protection remains fragmented when trafficking is facilitated by digital platforms, online job advertisements, messaging applications, and cross-border cyber exploitation. The novelty of this article is a regulatory model that integrates digital due diligence, early victim identification, non-punishment, restitution, trauma-informed recovery, personal data protection, and cross-border cooperation. Such a model is necessary to move the legal response beyond the prosecution toward substantive protection, recovery, and prevention of revictimization.