Deterrence Fails; Humanity Prevails

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Efforts to enhance border security through smart technology and surveillance have proven ineffective in deterring migration, as the underlying reasons for migration, driven by desperation and the quest for safety, remain unaddressed. Quantitative analyses reveal a troubling increase in deaths at the US-Mexico border following the adoption of such technologies. The assumption that technological solutions can create a fair and efficient immigration system overlooks the complexities of human behavior and migration drivers. Relying on technology as a quick fix for a broken immigration system risks reinforcing discrimination and lacks necessary public scrutiny. A comprehensive understanding of migration dynamics and a humanitarian approach are crucial to addressing the real issues at hand.

Climate change, political instability, hunger. These are just some of the forces behind an unprecedented refugee crisis that’s expected to include over a billion people by 2050. In response to this growing crisis, wealthy governments like the US and the EU are employing novel AI and surveillance technologies to slow the influx of migrants at their borders. But will this rollout stop at the border?

In this episode, Tristan and Aza sit down with Petra Molnar to discuss how borders have become a proving ground for the sharpest edges of technology, and especially AI. Petra is an immigration lawyer and co-creator of the Migration and Technology Monitor. Her new book is “The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Your Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology. Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_

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