Episode 17: Jacob Sims - Unmasking Cyber Slavery: Inside the Hidden World of Scam Centers

In this special guest-hosted episode, Kuldeep Singh Chauhan (Regional Director for Asia, Free the Slaves) sits down with Jacob Sims—Visiting Fellow at Harvard’s Asia Center and Regional Advisor at Humanity Research Consultancy to expose one of the fastest-growing forms of modern slavery: cyber scam centers. Together, they explore how trafficking victims are lured into guarded compounds across Southeast Asia and coerced into committing online fraud. Jacob shares survivor stories, insights from groundbreaking research, and the urgent need for survivor-led approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and accountability. 🔍 Topics include: How scam centers operate as a form of cyber slavery Why educated, tech-savvy youth are being trafficked The role of state corruption and criminal networks What governments, tech platforms, and NGOs must do How survivors are shaping solutions on the frontlines