Google Ideas INFO Summit - Preview

On 16-18 July, 2012 a group of unorthodox stakeholders will convene to address the challenge of how technology can disrupt illicit networks. Global illicit networks -- from drug smuggling and arms dealing, to human trafficking and organ harvesting -- affect millions of people across the world, bringing in over $2.1 trillion every year. Illicit networks are often only seen in the silos of those who study them, and through this initiative we hope to raise global awareness, and inspire and launch tangible projects and outputs to address this challenge.

The initiative does not stop at the summit: over the next few months the projects that will be kicked off at the summit will continue to be worked on. Watch this space for outputs.

Sources - in order of stats presented:
1. http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-a...
2. http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-a...
3. http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forc...
4. http://www.millennium-project.org/mil...
5. http://www.un.org/disarmament/HomePag...
6. http://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/chi...
7. http://www.havocscope.com/organ-traff...
8. http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-a...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[rhashemian]

how can one disrupt "illicit" networks? the answer lies right in the question. take the illicit away and the network will be disrupted. the drug cartels are probably the biggest proponents of keeping drugs illegal. decriminalize drugs, tax and regulate them. it's a bold move, but what has the so-called war on drugs gotten us so far? more violence and a fat and happy federal agency.