CTO Talks Tech Role In Fighting Sex Trade

The issue of child sex trafficking is not particularly high profile for the Obama administration, but a new initiative, heavy on technology, could change that.

Federal CTO Todd Park, speaking at a luncheon hosted by TechAmerica in May 2, pointed to a speech given by the president at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2012 when Obama promised to redouble efforts to go after sex traffickers abroad and at home.

"Just as they are now using technology and the Internet to exploit their victims, we're going to harness technology to stop them," Obama said. "We're encouraging tech companies and advocates and law enforcement -- and we're also challenging college students -- to develop tools that our young people can use to stay safe online and on their smart phones."