Digital Surveillance, Migration Control, and Human Rights: Ethical Dilemmas in the Use of Technology to Govern Human Mobility

Abstract

The use of digital surveillance technologies in the migration control has received more and more of a second wave of popularity that does not only provide chances of strengthening border security but also harbours attitudes towards the breach of human rights. This paper examines the controversial use of digital surveillance technology, referred to as biometric identification, artificial intelligence in surveillance, and computer-based decision-making, and is applied in migration control. The study consists of several elements of case analysis, document examination, interviews with stakeholders, and the utilization of a thematic examination; thus, the research pinpoints the most crucial ethical issues, such as information privacy breaches, racial profiling, AI-based bias, and the undermining of asylum procedures. The paper recommends a close imbalance between humans play a key role in technological change and the aspect of human rights since this paper contends that stringent control measures, transparency, and accountability are required in the deployment of surveillance technologies. The overall results indicate that although the stakeholders recognize that digital surveillance has a lot to offer in improving security, there is much opposition based on the effects it has on the rights of the individuals, especially to the marginalized migrant communities. To prevent the use of technology in order to preserve dignity, fairness, and equality toward all migrants, the research proposes the introduction of human rights-based approach to digital surveillance in migration that takes place during the control of migration.

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