New Books in Critical Theory Matt Mahmoudi, "Migrants in the Digital Periphery: New Urban Frontiers of Control" (U California Press, 2025)
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Mar 23, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Matt Mahmoudi, an assistant professor at Cambridge University, delves into the intersection of technology, migration, and racial capitalism. He critiques how tech companies bolster surveillance at Europe's borders while undermining the autonomy of migrant communities. Mahmoudi highlights grassroots initiatives by Syrian women in Berlin to combat misinformation and reveals the darker role of data brokers in tracking immigrant activities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need to rethink technology's impact on marginalized populations and advocates for community-driven resistance.
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Tech's Early Involvement in Refugee Issues
- In 2015, tech companies began developing "solutions" for refugees, focusing on high-tech tools like blockchain and biometrics.
- These initiatives gained attention from major players like Google and Facebook, coinciding with increased security tech development in the US.
Defining the Digital Periphery
- The digital periphery transcends geographical boundaries, focusing on how marginalized groups are categorized as either needing help or posing threats.
- It operates through techno-governmental ties, technospace, and techno-development, exploiting racial tropes and environments for profit.
Tech's Role in Borderization
- Mahmoudi's book focuses on how tech companies insert themselves into migration governance, effectively expanding the concept of borders.
- He questions whether borders should be tied to nation-states or defined by tech companies around individuals and communities.