Technology at the Borders: Surveillance, Control and Resistance in EU Migration Governance
The Balsillie Papers Vol. 6 Issue 6 (2025)
The European Union has increasingly integrated advanced technologies—such as biometric databases, AI-driven decision-making systems, and surveillance tools—into its migration and border governance. This technological shift raises urgent ethical and legal concerns, as it often results in the dehumanization, exclusion, and rights violations of migrants. This research examines how these technologies are used by states to control migration and by migrants and solidarity networks to resist restrictive border regimes. Drawing on policy analysis, case studies, and documentation from human rights organizations, the study analyzes both institutional uses of technology and grassroots digital resistance. The findings show that while EU states use technology to externalize and securitize borders, migrants and solidarity actors repurpose the same tools to navigate, document, and contest border violence. These insights underscore the need for transparent, rights-based governance of migration technologies and challenge dominant narratives of technological neutrality in border control.
The Balsillie Papers Vol. 6 Issue 6 (2025)
The European Union has increasingly integrated advanced technologies—such as biometric databases, AI-driven decision-making systems, and surveillance tools—into its migration and border governance. This technological shift raises urgent ethical and legal concerns, as it often results in the dehumanization, exclusion, and rights violations of migrants. This research examines how these technologies are used by states to control migration and by migrants and solidarity networks to resist restrictive border regimes. Drawing on policy analysis, case studies, and documentation from human rights organizations, the study analyzes both institutional uses of technology and grassroots digital resistance. The findings show that while EU states use technology to externalize and securitize borders, migrants and solidarity actors repurpose the same tools to navigate, document, and contest border violence. These insights underscore the need for transparent, rights-based governance of migration technologies and challenge dominant narratives of technological neutrality in border control.
Syrian Refugee Families’ Experiences of Pregnancy Loss Services in Lebanon: A Qualitative Study
International Health Trends and Perspectives, 4(3), 60–75 (2024)
with Karen Frensch, Bree Akesson and Al Hasnaa Keftaro.
Of the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, one in four women are of childbearing age. Pregnancy loss is more common in low-resource settings, yet health services addressing it remain scarce. This study explores how Syrian refugee families in Lebanon experience pregnancy loss within this context. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, researchers interviewed 15 mother-father dyads in the Bekaa region and held peer group discussions with mothers (n=8), fathers (n=7), and health practitioners (n=10), along with individual interviews with practitioners (n=3). Both parents and practitioners reported a lack of dedicated services after pregnancy loss and a predominant medical focus in care. Parents lacked awareness of existing services, while practitioners emphasized prevention through awareness sessions. Both groups identified the need for psychological and practical support, including greater father engagement. The study reveals overlapping and divergent service priorities, pointing to key areas for reform.
with Karen Frensch, Bree Akesson and Al Hasnaa Keftaro
International Health Trends and Perspectives, 4(3), 60–75 (2024).
Introduction: Of the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, one in four women are of childbearing age. Pregnancy loss is more common in low-resource settings, yet health services addressing it remain scarce. This study explores how Syrian refugee families in Lebanon experience pregnancy loss within this context. Methods: Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, researchers interviewed 15 mother-father dyads in the Bekaa region and held peer group discussions with mothers (n=8), fathers (n=7), and health practitioners (n=10), along with individual interviews with practitioners (n=3). Results: Both parents and practitioners reported a lack of dedicated services after pregnancy loss and a predominant medical focus in care. Parents lacked awareness of existing services, while practitioners emphasized prevention through awareness sessions. Both groups identified the need for psychological and practical support, including greater father engagement. Conclusions: The study reveals overlapping and divergent service priorities, pointing to key areas for reform. Addressing poverty and improving the relevance of health services and policies for refugee families are essential for better support following pregnancy loss.