Artificial intelligence is being linked to a significant surge of 600% in modern slavery and exploitation cases involving UK nationals, as indicated in a recent report. The report highlighted a record number of victims identified, with 23,411 referrals in 2025, marking a 22% increase from the previous year and a stark 617% rise since 2015 when there were 3,263 referrals.
Of note, British citizens now represent a record proportion of potential victims, underscoring the growing impact of exploitation within the UK population. Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons emphasized that the issue’s magnitude has reached unprecedented levels, driven by factors such as rising living expenses, debt burdens, and precarious employment, leading to a surge in human trafficking, forced labor, and various forms of exploitation.
The report revealed that the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies by traffickers has facilitated the identification, recruitment, and control of victims on a larger scale. These technologies, including AI-enabled scams and digital labor exploitation, have expanded the pool of victims and made exploitation more challenging to detect.
Moreover, the report highlighted concerning tactics such as “debt bonding” and “remote mothering” targeting children, emphasizing how offenders are leveraging the online space to recruit and manipulate victims with greater anonymity and reach. Looking ahead, the report warns of the evolving landscape of exploitation driven by technological advancements, including AI-enabled fraud and online exploitation methods.
Ms. Lyons called for urgent action from the Government to prioritize the fight against slavery by establishing a dedicated committee, increasing funding for specialized law enforcement units, and launching a national awareness campaign to empower people to identify and report exploitation signs. Businesses were also urged to face penalties and prosecution for exploitation practices, while a comprehensive national strategy was advocated to combat modern slavery effectively.
The report painted a grim picture of the escalating and diversifying forms of exploitation, with mounting risks posed by global conflicts, immigration-related exploitation, reproductive exploitation, and organ harvesting. Ms. Lyons stressed the critical need for immediate action to prevent the further spread and entrenchment of exploitation, fueled by technological innovations and global instability.