Minburn Communications Joins National Effort to Help Combat Sex Trafficking

Woodward, Iowa – The internet has transformed how people connect, learn, and live. Unfortunately, it has also been used to exploit vulnerable individuals through crimes like sex trafficking.

Sex trafficking occurs in communities across all 50 states, including small towns and rural areas. As a community service provider whose employees regularly work in neighborhoods and customers’ homes, Minburn Communications believes it has a responsibility to remain aware and help protect those who may be at risk.

To support this effort, Minburn Communications has joined Operation IFAST (ISPs Fight Against Sex Trafficking), a nationwide initiative led by Guardian Group that brings internet service providers together to assist in the fight against trafficking.

Guardian Group supports law enforcement agencies by identifying potential trafficking victims online and providing validated intelligence to investigators at no cost. Staffed by retired military personnel, law enforcement officers, and intelligence professionals, the organization has helped identify more than 1,200 victims across the country.

“The same technology that connects communities can also be misused,” said Douglas Pals, CEO and General Manager at Minburn Communications. “We believe it’s important for companies like ours to be part of protecting the people who rely on these networks every day. By joining this effort, our employees will have the training and resources to recognize potential signs of trafficking and know how to report concerns through the proper channels.”

As part of Operation IFAST, Minburn Communications is committing to:

The company hopes that by raising awareness and sharing resources, others will also be encouraged to learn more and support the ongoing fight against trafficking.

About Guardian Group
Guardian Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses open-source intelligence (OSINT) to identify victims of sex trafficking online. The publicly available information they find is passed to resource constrained law enforcement agencies, free of charge, for action. Through their unique volunteer program, Project 1591, everyday citizens with digital skills can also contribute to this critical mission, resulting in victims being offered a path to freedom faster.

To learn more or donate, visit www.guardiangroup.org.