In February 2024, Lyft became the inaugural rideshare partner for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaign. The DHS Blue Campaign is a national initiative aimed at raising public awareness and educating industry partners on recognizing and responding to human trafficking, which involves the coercion and exploitation of individuals for labor or commercial sex acts.
Lyft, in collaboration with the DHS Blue Campaign, has developed a human trafficking prevention tutorial now accessible within the Lyft app for drivers. This tutorial draws on the expertise of DHS professionals, who are well-versed in human trafficking prevention, and enhances Lyft’s existing educational materials on the subject. This joint effort resulted in a comprehensive tutorial for Lyft drivers across the nation, integrating the latest information and best practices in human trafficking prevention.
Ameena Gill, Vice President of Safety and Customer Care at Lyft, expressed the company’s commitment to educating drivers on identifying and reporting potential human trafficking incidents. She emphasized the hope that Lyft’s driver community, which facilitates hundreds of millions of rides annually, can play a significant role in identifying and combating these crimes.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach to counter-human trafficking efforts. He noted that partnering with key private sector entities like Lyft, whose drivers have extensive interactions with the public, enhances the ability to shed light on human trafficking, protect victims, and bring perpetrators to justice. Mayorkas expressed gratitude for Lyft’s ongoing commitment and encouraged other stakeholders to join this crucial mission.
Lyft encourages users to report safety incidents to both the Lyft support team and law enforcement. Users can report incidents through the Help tab in the Lyft app or find more information on reporting through Lyft’s website.
This partnership with DHS underscores the necessity of collaborative efforts. Alongside the Blue Campaign, Lyft continues to work with its Safety Advisory Council, which provides guidance on products, features, and processes designed to ensure community safety.
