AI driving modern slavery surge in UK – watchdog

RT News · May 05, 2026 · 355 words · By Russia Today

Modern slavery in the UK Technological vulnerability AI-enabled crime

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.rt.com/news/639484-uk-traffickers-ai-slavery-surge/

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

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Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

7 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

verified Verified By Reference 3

check_circle Corroborated 2

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info Single Source 1

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“Artificial intelligence is helping criminals expand their entrapment of modern-day slaves across the UK”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute the claim that AI is helping criminals expand entrapment of modern-day slaves in the UK.

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“the study, commissioned by the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, has found [that criminal networks in the UK are seeking to enslave people through coercion, deception, or force, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking]”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms the existence and role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, the provided web search results for this specific claim are irrelevant (links to Study.com) and do not mention the specific study or its findings regarding criminal networks.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner is a position created by the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The role complements the existing role of Victims' Commissioner to ensure that modern slavery issues ar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Anti-Slavery_Commi…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reform UK, often known simply as Reform, is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom. It has eight members of Parliament in the House of Commons, two members of the Lo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UK

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dame Sara Joanne Thornton, (born 27 December 1962) was the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner from May 2019 until April 2022. She was appointed by the Home Secretary at the time, Sajid Javid,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Thornton_(police_officer)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“the number of reported cases reached 23,411 in 2025, the highest on record and marked a 22% annual increase”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results explicitly confirm that 23,411 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office in 2025, representing a 22% increase from the previous year (19,117).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There may refer to: There (2009 film), a Turkish film (Turkish title: Orada) There (2025 film), a Russian comedy film There (virtual world) there, a deictic adverb in English there, an English pronou…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There, There or There There may refer to: There There (film), a 2022 American romantic comedy film There, There (film), a 2024 Canadian drama film "There There", a 2003 song by Radiohead "There, Ther…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There,_There

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There There is the debut novel by Cheyenne and Arapaho author Tommy Orange. Published in 2018, the book follows a large cast of Native Americans living in the Oakland, California, area and contains se…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_There_(novel)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“AI-driven scams, deepfakes and synthetic identities are being used to target vulnerable individuals”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that criminal ecosystems are weaponizing AI for deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI-powered scams to facilitate human trafficking and fraud in 2025.

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web search NEUTRAL — An entire criminal ecosystem at work These operations across the region go beyond just fraud. These networks facilitate money laundering, develop and deploy malware, weaponise artificial intelligence …
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167144

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web search NEUTRAL — Stay ahead of AI-powered scammers: learn how to protect yourself from record-breaking losses and human trafficking in the 2025 global scam landscape.
https://scamwatchhq.com/the-2025-global-scam-landscape-a-yea…

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web search NEUTRAL — Discover how artificial intelligence is reshaping the criminal landscape in TRM Labs' latest report, "The Rise of AI-Enabled Crime." Explore real-world cases of AI-driven cyberattacks, deepfake scams,…
https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/the-rise-of-ai-enable…

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“Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons warned that without urgent action, modern slavery will become more complex, more hidden, and harder to combat”

SINGLE SOURCE

Wikipedia confirms Eleanor Lyons is the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. However, the provided web search results for her specific warning about modern slavery becoming 'more complex and hidden' are generic descriptions of the UK and England, providing no corroboration for the quote itself.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eleanor Lyons is a British public official who has served as the United Kingdom’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) since December 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Lyons

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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“A recent joint investigation by CNN and the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that 8 out of 10 AI chatbots helped simulate violent attack planning, including school shootings and attacks on public figures”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided consists of dictionary definitions of 'investigation' and general Wikipedia entries for CNN and the Center for Countering Digital Hate. There is no evidence provided that confirms the specific finding that 8 out of 10 chatbots helped simulate violent attacks.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — CNN (Cable News Network), an American basic cable and satellite television channel, has been the subject of multiple controversies. This article recounts controversies and allegations relating to both…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN_controversies

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), formerly Brixton Endeavors, is a British-American not-for-profit NGO company with offices in London and Washington, D.C. with the stated purpose of stopp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Countering_Digital_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Imran Ahmed (born September 1978) is a British political strategist, author, and activist who has worked for Labour candidates and currently serves as the CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Ahmed_(strategist)

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“The research also found that most systems were willing to provide actionable guidance in violent scenarios to users posing as minors”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence contains generic links to ResearchGate and Pew Research, and general Wikipedia entries. No specific research findings regarding AI systems providing guidance to minors in violent scenarios are present in the evidence.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Media Research Center (MRC) is an American conservative content analysis and media watchdog group based in Herndon, Virginia, and founded in 1987 by L. Brent Bozell III. The nonprofit MRC has rece…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Research_Center

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

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AI driving modern slavery surge in UK – watchdog

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