Our mission at Starbucks Stops Trafficking is to combat human trafficking by empowering travelers to recognize and respond to potential trafficking situations effectively. Ultimately, we aim to decrease the number of people trafficked through Western airports.

Why starbucks?

Modern Slavery has reached unprecedented levels, with over 49.6 million people falling victim to human trafficking. Alarmingly, 60% of this trafficking occurs through international airports (Reed, 2018). Given that Starbucks is the largest coffee distributor on airports globally (Deyn, 2022), we recognize our responsibility in addressing the issue of human trafficking and are committed to taking action.

Vulnerable and false pretenses

People in vulnerable situations, such as pregnancy, poverty, or loneliness, are approached with false pretenses.

Warmth and wealth

The traffickers pretend like they are can give the victim a better life and convince them by luxury and emotional support.

Moving away

After a while they convince the victim to move out of city, state or country, because they will get a better life somewhere else.

Hopeless and powerless

The victim is often unable to speak the language or lacking legal documents. At this point, the trafficker seizes control of money and passport, leaving the victim powerless.

Final Destination

The final destination of the victim differs per case. But they often have to work for money, are forced into criminality or in prostitution.

What is a trafficking situation?

How to notice a trafficking situation?

Clothing

The victim often travels with clothing that does not suit the destination.

No possessions

The victim may hold no backpack, or suitcase as they have little to no possessions.

Control of Documents

The trafficker often holds documents, money or mobile phones.

Purpose of travel

The victim sometimes does not know where they are going exactly.

No Communication

The victim is often not allowed to talk with other .The trafficker talks for them.

Behaviour

The victim may be anxious, confused etc.. This leads to avoiding contact or extreme urge for contact with others.

Abuse

The victim may have signals of mental of physical abuse.

This is a game where players get to experience what it is like to be a Starbucks barista. In this game participants are looking out at other travellers from the room inside the exhibit through a transparent screen. Superimposed customers will emerge from the crowd. They look exactly like the real people at Schiphol walking by. The players can serve these customers by dragging coffee to them. Participants can also work together to complete more orders.

Unique selling points

Awareness

Engaging

Impact

Increased use of AI and biometric technology in airports such as ​will allow travelers to move more quickly through airport ​security, but brings with it less human to human interaction.

Public Appeal​

Instead of immediately presenting the heavy topic of human trafficking and presenting statistics like many programs ​use, we chose to mystify the game’s elements and message initially in order to attract more people who might turn ​away at the sight of overwhelming information. We hope that in doing so more people will be impacted by our ​message.

Younger Audiences​

The topic of human trafficking may be disturbing for younger individuals. To ensure people aren’t blindsided by the ​revealing of the human trafficking problem, a mature content warning and description of the game’s content will be ​posted outside of the exhibition.

Privacy Risk

The Starbucks Stops Trafficking game involves the use of cameras to create the augmented reality element. While ​filming in a public place is within the law according to the Gemeente Amsterdam putting cameras outside of the ​exhibition creates the risk of discomfort of travelers. To combat this, the cameras will be discreet and unobtrusive, and ​an announcement informing the public that AI will be used to recognize human features in order to create the game’s ​visuals.