Co-organised by the Algorithmic Fairness for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (AFAR) project and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
In the context of increasing digitalisation and automation in migration and asylum governance, the Algorithmic Fairness for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (AFAR) project, hosted at the Hertie School, Centre for Fundamental Rights in Berlin seeks to explore the impacts of ‘newtech’ (meaning in particular automated decision-making and algorithmic systems) across all aspects of migration and asylum governance, from forecasting of migration movements to border surveillance and control, and decision-making on visas, asylum and nationality. The project seeks to highlight impacts of 'newtech' on fairness, transparency, and the protection of human rights.
To further inform the development of OHCHR's draft ‘Principles and Guidelines on human rights-based digital border governance’, this side event will include presentations of key research findings, drawing out their policy implications for a range of stakeholders, including governments, UN bodies, businesses and civil society organisations. Drawing on OHCHR’s recommendations and the AFAR project’s research findings, we will explore the current and potential uses of these technologies, their implications for fairness and human rights, and how to ensure adequate scrutiny both ex post and ex ante, including by courts and through litigation, in order to ensure that they do not exacerbate or mask further human rights violations in border governance practices.
Aims
To inform OHCHR’s draft ‘Principles and Guidelines on human rights-based digital border governance’.
To provide Member States and other stakeholders with practical insights into fairness, transparency, and legal obligations related to digital border technology.
To foster dialogue on aligning digital border technology practices with international human rights law.
Panelists
- Ben Hayes, OHCHR, presenting their draft Recommended Principles and Guidelines on human rights-based digital border governance
- Prof Cathryn Costello, University College Dublin/Hertie School, AFAR team, addressing fairness-related questions arising from the use of newtech in border governance within Europe
- Dr Derya Ozkul, University of Warwick, AFAR team, focusing on strategic litigation on the use of newtech for border governance in Europe
- Likhita Banerji, Head of Algorithmic Accountability Lab and Deputy Programme Director (Interim) Amnesty Tech, Amnesty International
