Pengaruh Teknologi Digital terhadap Modus Operandi Prostitusi Anak di Kota Yogyakarta

Abstrak

Online prostitution in Indonesia has grown rapidly with advances in technology, complicating surveillance and law enforcement, especially when it involves child exploitation. A case in Yogyakarta that revealed the use of online dating apps for child trafficking highlights serious challenges in tracking and protecting victims. This study uses a legal-empirical research method. The findings reveal that the modus operandi of the perpetrators, including booking hotels for specific periods, targeting major cities as operational bases, leveraging social media, and maintaining high mobility, provide insights into the complexity and adaptability of these illegal practices. In this context, a deep understanding of these stages is expected to significantly contribute to our knowledge of the dynamics of online prostitution in Yogyakarta and serve as a foundation for improving policies and enforcing the law more effectively. However, this study also highlights several challenges faced by the Yogyakarta Police Department. One major challenge is the investigative process involving PPA investigators who must pose as potential customers. This challenge is not only technical but also involves security and psychological aspects that require high interpersonal skills. Additionally, the difficulty in proving the age of the children involved, especially when they come from outside the city, adds to the complexity of handling these cases.