Can big tech stop wildlife crime?
There’s a new, unlikely ally in the fight against illegal wildlife crime: Big tech. Earlier this year, new commitments from household names including Paypal, Meta, eBay and Etsy were announced at the United For Wildlife Business Forum to End Wildlife Trade. Wildlife trafficking is a sophisticated international crime worth billions of dollars. As wildlife trade […]
The fight against illegal wildlife crime has gained an unexpected ally in the form of big tech companies. At the recent United For Wildlife Business Forum to End Wildlife Trade, tech giants such as Paypal, Meta, eBay and Etsy announced new commitments to combat the problem. Wildlife trafficking is a significant international issue, generating billions of dollars annually, and it is becoming more sophisticated as it moves online.
Traffickers are increasingly utilizing social media, e-commerce platforms, and even cryptocurrency to operate across borders, making it a complex challenge to tackle. The involvement of these organizations is seen as crucial in disrupting the networks behind wildlife crime, and experts have welcomed these pledges. However, the question remains as to whether these new commitments will be sufficient to combat the issue, especially considering that some of the same technologies being used to fight wildlife trafficking have also facilitated its growth.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
