The Digital Border: Migration, Technology, Power

Digital technologies shape the experiences and meanings of migration by managing the flow of people at crossing-points, controlling the public narratives of migration as a "crisis," and allowing migrants to speak back and make themselves heard. This is a story of exclusion, marginalization, and violence, but also of care, conviviality, and solidarity. The digital border is both digital and pre-digital, datafied and embodied, automated and self-reflexive, undercut by competing emotions, desires, and judgments, and traversed by fluid and fragile social relationships.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

The experiences and meanings of migration are profoundly shaped by the ever-evolving landscape of digital technologies. As the global population continues to grapple with the challenges of war, poverty, and environmental degradation, governments are increasingly relying on digital tools to manage the flow of people at border crossing points. This includes the use of big data, artificial intelligence, social media platforms, and institutional journalism to control not only the physical movement of individuals but also the narratives and images surrounding human mobility.

The role of digital technologies in shaping migration today is multifaceted. On the one hand, they facilitate communication and connectivity between migrants, allowing them to share information, resources, and support networks. Social media platforms, in particular, have become powerful tools for migrants to raise awareness about their rights, advocate for their causes, and connect with broader audiences.

However, digital technologies also play a significant role in controlling the flow of people at the border. Surveillance cameras, biometric identification systems, and advanced tracking technologies are used to monitor and control the movement of individuals, often leading to increased border enforcement and detention practices. Moreover, the use of social media and other digital platforms by governments to control the narrative of migration can lead to misinformation, fearmongering, and discrimination against migrants.

Migrants themselves are also leveraging digital technologies to their advantage. They use social media to share their experiences, raise awareness about their rights, and advocate for their causes. Mobile phones and messaging apps have become essential tools for migrants to communicate with family and friends back home, as well as to find work and support in their destination countries.

However, the use of digital technologies by migrants can also be risky and vulnerable. They may face surveillance, harassment, and discrimination online, and their personal data may be exploited by criminal organizations or government agencies. Moreover, the digital divide, which exists between migrants and more privileged populations, can limit their access to digital technologies and their ability to benefit from their potential.

In conclusion, digital technologies have a profound impact on the experiences and meanings of migration. While they offer opportunities for connectivity, empowerment, and advocacy, they also contribute to the control and marginalization of migrants. It is essential to approach the use of digital technologies in migration with a critical eye, recognizing both their potential benefits and risks. Governments, civil society the society, and migrants themselves must work together to ensure that digital technologies are used to promote safe, fair, and inclusive migration for all.

The 2015 European migration "crisis" and its aftermath up to 2020 serve as a case study for Lilie Chouliaraki and Myria Georgiou in their book "The Digital Border: Exclusion, Marginalization, and Violence in the Age of Advanced Surveillance." They examine the role of digital technologies in shaping migration in Europe's outer islands and vibrant cities, highlighting the complexities and contradictions of this phenomenon.

The authors argue that the digital border is an expansive assemblage of technological infrastructures, such as surveillance cameras, smartphones, and biometric identification systems, as well as media imaginaries, such as stories, images, and social media posts. These infrastructures and imaginaries work together to tell the story of migration as it unfolds in Europe, shaping public perceptions and policy responses.

One of the key themes of the book is the story of exclusion, marginalization, and violence that accompanies migration. The authors argue that digital technologies have played a significant role in exacerbating these issues, as they facilitate the surveillance and control of migrants, leading to increased border enforcement and detention practices. Surveillance cameras, for example, have become a ubiquitous feature of border crossings, allowing governments to monitor the movement of individuals and identify those who may be in violation of immigration laws.

At the same time, digital technologies have also facilitated the circulation of stories and images of human mobility, which can shape public perceptions of migration as a "crisis." The media, in particular, has played a crucial role in shaping public narratives of migration, often presenting migrants as threats to national security, economic stability, and cultural values. This can lead to discrimination and hostility towards migrants, as well as policies that prioritize border security over human rights.

However, the book also highlights the resilience and creativity of migrants in the face of hardship and hostility. Migrants use digital technologies to speak back and make themselves heard, using social media platforms to share their experiences, advocate for their rights, and connect with broader audiences. Mobile phones and messaging apps have become essential tools for migrants to communicate with family and friends back home, as well as to find work and support in their destination countries.

The digital border, as Chouliaraki and Georgiou argue, is both digital and pre-digital, datafied and embodied, automated and self-reflexive, undercut by competing emotions, desires, and power dynamics. It is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that requires a holistic understanding of the technological, social, and political factors that shape it.

The book offers a critical analysis of the digital border, challenging the notion that it is a purely technological or administrative issue. Instead, it emphasizes the role of media imaginaries and power dynamics in shaping migration policy and practice. It also highlights the need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to migration, one that recognizes the rights and dignity of all migrants and seeks to promote safe, fair, and inclusive migration for all.

In conclusion, "The Digital Border" is a valuable contribution to the literature on migration and digital technologies. It offers a nuanced and critical analysis of the role of digital technologies in shaping migration, highlighting the complexities and contradictions of this phenomenon. By examining the case studies of the 2015 European migration "crisis" and its aftermath, the book provides a valuable insight into the ways in which digital technologies are used to control, marginalize, and exclude migrants, as well as the resilience and creativity of migrants in the face of hardship and hostility. It calls for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to migration policy and practice, one that recognizes the rights and dignity of all migrants and seeks to promote safe, fair, and inclusive migration for all.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479873401