What’s your rate?
Gracie: 80hh, 180h that work for u?
That’ll work. Ok, where should I meet you?
Gracie: I’m close to the city park, that ok with u?
Yes. That’s good. Are the pictures really you?
Gracie: Yes, baby those are me. You like what you see;)
You’ve just been privy to a chat between Gracie and a buyer of sex. Gracie, an AI generated chat bot, part of Transact Intercept, pretends to be a trafficked minor, who then carries the conversation to the point of sale. She has been programmed to help identify and intercept buyers of sex with a minor.
AI for Good
It all started with a desire to protect children. “What if AI could be used to disrupt demand and give law enforcement an edge in fighting minor sex trafficking?” dreamed Bob Rogers, CEO of Street Grace along with people from BBDO (an advertising firm). So in collaboration with 100 volunteers from Microsoft’s Hack for Good initiative and employees of several law enforcement agencies, Street Grace developed a game-changing technology to deter the online exploitation of children.
From ongoing investigations of predator and victim transcripts, university student text chats, and guidance from the CDC, Gracie can use “one of hundreds of different adolescent personas,” in order to pretend to be an underage girl available for purchase.
Once the intent to buy is established through Gracie’s conversation, she lets the buyer know it’s a felony in all 50 states and can result in fines of up to $100,000 and 40 years in prison. If a patrol is taking place, a team member can also break into the chat, letting the buyer know all of the negative ramifications of the crime they are about to commit. They are further told their information and their conversation will be stored on local law enforcement’s permanent file.
A Decoy
Buyers often find minors online where they have depended on remaining anonymous. Websites post ads of minors being sold for sex. Transact Intercept (TI), a “smart, scalable solution to reducing demand and preventing the exploitation of children,” uses decoy ads on websites frequented by purchasers of sex.
Is it Effective?
Since the February 2024 testing of TI, 142,000 messages were intercepted and 7,800 predators were identified. The tool was utilized in 42 cities in 15 states, where predators can be identified and apprehended. It’s being used by law enforcement for sting operations and in prosecutions across the country. It’s also won dozens of awards for innovation and positive social impact.
“With more funding, capacity, and power, Transaction Intercept could disrupt hundreds of thousands of texts every single minute.
And every conversation we intercept is one less conversation with a real child.”
The Good Guys
Street Grace’s executive director, Nick Lembo, currently has volunteer teams of men in Wisconsin, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Florida, the Carolinas and Iowa. More teams are forming in Washington, Virginia, and Canada. If you or someone you know would be interested in learning more, please contact Street Grace at the link below. You can also support this very effective approach financially.
The Good News
The intercepted buyer is directed to resources and first steps in recovering from their addiction to sex. Street Grace has developed a website called notlove.org. It holds a directory to professional counselors, therapists, and support groups in every state. An ex-buyer gives a hope-filled testimony of coming out of this negative lifestyle and finally finding freedom. He is now fighting this evil.
Prayer
Lord, we are excited about this ingenious collaborative effort to fight trafficking on the web. We thank you for Nick Lembo and his passion to see teams trained and equipped to use this technology in each state. Give him the divine connections and support he needs. Lead him as he trains men and give him future trainers in the right time. Anoint his words to hit the mark in mens’ hearts.
We declare your protection over men and their families as they participate in patrol teams. Strengthen them in vision, fellowship, and unity each time they meet. Grant the leaders bold confidence and ideas that will work well in their region. Let this work prosper as it goes forth into new territory. Shine your light ever brighter into the kingdom of darkness.
Wake up the buyers with each call intercepted. We declare John 1:9 over every man, “the true Light which coming into the world, enlightens every man.” Let them renounce their path of destruction, embrace the Truth, and turn to become defenders of children. To the spirits of darkness in the underworld of trafficking, we proclaim, “Don’t Touch the Children!”
We pray this in the mighty name of Yeshua. Amen.
Special thanks to contributing editors Nick and Jo Lembo.
Wow! This is a great start at being an effective tool to protect children and prevent trafficking.
Indeed it is!