Precarious migrants, migration regimes and digital technologies: the empowerment-control nexus

Abstract

This special issue makes an in depth analysis of the various and complex interactions between precarious (i.e. forced, vulnerable, undocumented or deported) migrants' emancipatory practices enabled by information and communication technologies, and the constraints created by technological tools used for surveillance and migration control. It explores the empowerment-control nexus by articulating the use of digital technologieswhether by migrants themselves, by civil society actors, or by institutionswith their mediating role in the processes of empowerment, surveillance and migration control. It gathers together seven articles that draw on original empirical studies conducted across various geographical zones

Double lockdown: The effects of digital exclusion on undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…On one hand, immigrants use technologies to facilitate migration (Gillespie et al, 2018; Newell et al, 2016; Tsatsou and Boursinou, 2017) and aid their integration (Aléncar and Tsagkroni, 2019). On the other hand, technology can surveil their activities (Nedelcu and Soysüren, 2020) and reinforce power relations with the state (Garcia, 2011). These outcomes are tied to the affordances and modalities of Internet use.…”

Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Migration and Mobility: Transnational Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…These camera technologies collect real-time data and often rely on AI machine learning to screen and diagnose individuals and produce research that supports virus modelling and risk prediction [6]. The collection of biometric data raises serious questions about how the data is stored, who owns it, who can access it, and how it will be protected [25,26,37]. The increase of surveillance technologies that utilize biometrics has given rise to "virtual" or "digital" borders which have great implications for migration [25,37].…”

“…The collection of biometric data raises serious questions about how the data is stored, who owns it, who can access it, and how it will be protected [25,26,37]. The increase of surveillance technologies that utilize biometrics has given rise to "virtual" or "digital" borders which have great implications for migration [25,37]. For one, biometric identifiers as a prerequisite for travel is expanding, we see this especially in the context of COVID-19 with the requirements for proof of vaccination and COVID-19 test results [38].…”

Double Lockdown: The Effects of Digital Exclusion on Undocumented Immigrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…On the one hand, immigrants use technologies to facilitate migration (Gillespie et al, 2018;Newell et al, 2016;Tsatsou and Boursinou, 2017) and aid their integration (Aléncar and Tsagkroni, 2019). On the other hand, technology can surveil their activities (Nedelcu and Soysüren, 2020) and reinforce power relations with the state (Garcia, 2011). These outcomes are tied to the affordances and modalities of internet use.…”