Over the last nine years, conflict and state fragility have triggered an increase in global displacement: 82.4 million people at the end of 2020. The total number of international migrants is several orders of magnitude higher. Technological “solutions” are increasingly being used to manage unprecedented levels of human mobility quicker and more efficiently. Humanitarian organizations, civil society groups, and governments are leveraging digital tools as cost-effective means to deliver assistance, automate processing, and predict future migration trends. Digital connectivity also enables migrants to access information, resources, financing, and social networks essential to their safety and autonomy. At the same time, there are growing concerns about the human rights implications of expanded use of artificial intelligence, biometrics, and digital ID related to data protection and privacy, informed consent, and automation bias.

This discussion is based on an ongoing project at CSIS jointly executed by the Human Rights Initiative and the Project on Fragility and Mobility. The goal of the project is to define and promote a human rights-respecting approach to the export and utilization of migrationrelated technologies by the US and EU member states in origin, transit, and destination countries through case studies on the Northern Triangle and West Africa. Through this IMRF side-event public panel discussion and a structured question and answer session, the panel will share insights into how these tools should be further exported and utilized given increased migration and human rights risks. We will ensure a dynamic, inclusive discussion by soliciting input from various perspectives, including participants from origin and transit countries where migration management technology is deployed, participants with experience working on these issues within the US and EU, and participants with expertise on specific migration management technologies. This hour-long event will take place in English.

Register here: 

Register here: https://www.csis.org/events/perils-and-possibilities-using-technology-

migration-management