PUTRAJAYA – The Home Ministry has launched an interactive, multilingual chatbot as a medium of interaction between the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants and victims, to combat human trafficking.
The artificial intelligence feature simulates human conversation through voice commands or text chats, or both.
Launched in conjunction with this year’s World Day Against Trafficking In Persons, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the chatbot which is accessible via MAPO Facebook messenger, was developed by the government and a non-governmental organisation, Project Liber8.
“The chatbot is easily accessible, user-friendly, practical, and can be reached 24/7 to provide a swift response,” he said, adding that it comes in six languages: Malay, English, Indonesian, Burmese, Nepali, and Bengali.
Expressing hopes that more victims will come forward with the launch of the chatbot, Hamzah in his speech said: “You will not only be rescued, but protected.”
“It is essential to realise that trafficking victims and survivors are key players in the fight against trafficking in persons,” he said, adding that support and responses for victims need to be intensified.
Hamzah said human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that denies millions of victims around the world their freedom, dignity and human rights of millions of victims around the world.
He said based on statistics, since 2015, a total of 1,854 cases involving 10,463 victims had been recorded in Malaysia, and 70% of victims were women and children.
“All the victims have been rescued and given protection under existing legislations,” he said, adding that he is grateful to all the victims who had provided information and cooperated with the government in its efforts to combat human trafficking.
Hamzah said the Home Ministry is considering increasing penalties for human traffickers, including proposing the introduction of life imprisonment. – Bernama, July 30, 2021
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