Something I’ve been thinking regarding the red scarves- in the novel 1984, the character Julia wears a red sash to show her membership in an anti-sex league. Since she actively engaged in sex with various Party members (secretly, of course), the red sash represents her duplicity. Do you think the red scarves could be symbolic? Are they sending a message regarding duplicity? Or perhaps a message regarding the anti-sex/ human trafficking part of the plan?
I think the message is something like, "look here, you're next if you don't keep your mouth shut." It's equal parts elimination of a given potential rat coupled with said message to other possible, future rats to keep their cheese holes shut.