Legal Analysis and Policy for Overcoming Cyber Trafficking as a New Form of Transnational Crime

Abstract

The rapid development of information and communication technology has transformed human trafficking from conventional forms into digitally facilitated crimes, commonly referred to as cyber trafficking. This crime utilizes social media, instant messaging applications, online recruitment platforms, and other digital technologies to recruit, control, and exploit victims across national borders. Such developments create new challenges for both national and international legal systems due to their transnational nature, anonymity, and the difficulty of detection and enforcement. This study aims to analyze the legal framework governing cyber trafficking within national and international law, identify regulatory weaknesses, and formulate effective policy measures to combat this emerging form of transnational crime. The research employs a normative legal research method using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. The study relies on primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials, which are analyzed qualitatively. The findings reveal that although Indonesia has enacted various regulations concerning human trafficking and cybercrime, significant regulatory gaps and overlapping provisions continue to hinder effective law enforcement against cyber trafficking. Furthermore, limited inter-agency coordination, inadequate digital competencies among law enforcement officials, and weak cross-border cooperation contribute to the persistence of this crime. Accordingly, adaptive regulatory reforms, strengthened international cooperation mechanisms, enhanced law enforcement capacity, and improved oversight of digital platforms are necessary to establish a more effective system for the prevention and eradication of cyber trafficking.