The digital border: Mobility beyond territorial and symbolic divides

Abstract

In this article, we develop a definition of the digital border as an assemblage of mediations that articulates digital and other technologies with symbolic resources to draw boundaries of inside/outside both on the ground (territorial border) and in narrative (symbolic border). We subsequently sketch the contours of this assemblage through an emphasis on its dynamics of mediation, its dialectics of resistance and its trajectories of historicity and argue for the significance of this conceptualisation of the digital border in migration research.

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

“…suggested the term of 'bio-bordering' in order 'to capture how the territorial foundations of national state autonomy are partially reclaimed and, at the same time, partially purposefully suspended when establishing biometric data exchange'. Finally, Chouliaraki and Georgiou (2019) defined 'digital border' as an assemblage of mediations, which articulates digital and other technologies. These various conceptualizations underline the importance of technology within border control from a security perspective put forward by states.…”

Migrancy and digital mediations of emotion

“…Recent years have seen a surge in contestations around migration in Europe, highlighting both the solidarities and the anti-immigrant responses that have been mobilized through affective media spheres. The dominant focus on the European Mediterranean border, and on digital borders (Chouliaraki and Georgiou, 2019; Georgiou and Zabarowski, 2017), has seen little expansion in the settings of migration, concealing how the recent migration seen by Europe is connected to dynamics in Middle Eastern and African countries, where international responsibilities have been left largely unarticulated.…”

Blockchain in transport and logistics – paradigms and transitions

“…Technologies include face recognition, artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics, robotics, laser and infrared technologies. For instance, face recognition has been used in certain major airports for passengers check-in and aircraft boarding (Chouliaraki and Georgiou 2019); whilst laser and infrared technologies have been used to trace goods in containers (Li 2013).…”