Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Title: Entangled in the technology-driven borderscape: Border crossers rendered to their digital self

Speaker: Dr. Valeria Ferraris (University of Turin, Italy)

EU management of migration is undergoing an unprecedented transformation because of the use of databases and information systems. Drawing on the concept of border performativity, this talk will discuss how data is transforming the border. In particular, the article focuses on 1) how the EU JHA databases are evolving, from separate systems each with one purpose to multi-purpose databases, and 2) how the new EU plan – the interoperability regulation – connects and merges biometric and biographical data, as part of a shift from a silo-based approach towards a single centralised information system.

The talk is based on results of several research projects carried out between 2011 and 2019 adopting mixed methodology and focuses on the border crossers’ role in challenging this digital border control, both in light of the current practices of data collection and processing and newly approved EU regulations. 

This event will take place in-person on Monday 6 March 2023 at 16:00pm in the Board Room (MST.09.022)