The Intersection of Narcotics Control, Data Privacy, And Digital Payments: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Sagar Sarika · African Journal of Biomedical Research · 2024
The global narcotics trade poses a persistent challenge to public health, human rights, and international security.While traditional enforcement mechanisms have focused on physical supply chains, the rapid proliferation of digital payment systems has created new avenues for illicit activities.Cryptocurrencies, peer-to-peer platforms, and anonymous digital transactions are increasingly exploited by drug cartels for money laundering and trafficking.Simultaneously, advancements in data surveillance and analytics offer opportunities to combat these activities but also raise significant privacy concerns.This article examines the intersection of narcotics control, data privacy, and digital payments through a multidisciplinary lens.It explores how technological vulnerabilities in digital payment ecosystems facilitate narcotics trade and highlights the ethical dilemmas posed by surveillance mechanisms used to counteract these threats.The analysis underscores the need for innovative, technology-driven solutions such as blockchain for transparency, AI for predictive analytics, and strengthened financial oversight to monitor suspicious transactions effectively.The proposed Dynamic Immunity Theory emphasizes a dual approach: implementing macro-level policy reforms to regulate digital financial systems and fostering grassroots-level interventions to raise awareness and provide rehabilitation.Ethical considerations are central to these solutions, ensuring that anti-narcotics measures do not infringe upon individual rights or disproportionately impact marginalized communities.By integrating technological advancements with human rights-centric policymaking, this research provides a blueprint for addressing the narcotics menace in the digital age.A coordinated effort involving governments, corporations, and civil society is imperative to dismantle the infrastructure enabling drug cartels and secure a future free from the scourge of narcotics.