Information and Communications Technology in Support of Migration

✍ Scribed by Babak Akhgar, Karen Latricia Hough, Yara Abdel Samad, Petra Saskia Bayerl, Anastasios Karakostas

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 404
• Series: Security Informatics and Law Enforcement
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The book provides a holistic review, presenting a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary, international, and evidence-based approach to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in migration. The book brings together different views and multifaceted responses to ICT-based migration management, examining their overlap, conflict, and synergies. The book is a major addition to the field, tackling important debates concerning humanitarianism and securitization in the reception of migrants, as well as exploring the role of digital technology in aiding migrant integration. The authors explore contentious areas such as the use of new technologies deployed on borders for migration management and border security under the umbrella of smart border solutions including drones, AI algorithms, and face recognition, which are widely criticized for ignoring the fundamental human rights of migrants. The research presented will depart from the euphoric appraisals that technology has made things easier for migrants and those who assist them, to critically examine the bane and boon, benefits and afflictions, highlighting the barriers, as well as the solutions, including several under-researched aspects of digital surveillance and the digital divide.

This edited volume has been developed by the MIICT project, funded under the EU Horizon 2020 Action and Innovation programme, under grant agreement No 822380.

Provides a positive approach to the integration of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions

Offers a strategic approach to providing digital services for migrants at an EU, national and local level

Bridges the gap between academia and front-line practitioners’ work by providing theoretical, policy, ethical, and methodological recommendations

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Background to the Book
Project Outlines
Contents
About the Editors
Contributors
Introduction
References
Part I: The Relevance of ICTs in Migration
Integrate Services to Integrate Migrants: Obstacles and Opportunities for Digital Integration of Migrants’ Service Providers
1 Introduction: EU Agenda on Digital Inclusion and Integration
2 The Concept of Integration in the European Literature
3 Integrated Service for Integrated People
4 The Main Obstacles to the Technological Integration of Migrants at a Local Level
5 Conclusion
References
Anti-social Media. Understanding the Role of Social Media in Reinforcing Obstacles to Migrant Integration
1 Introduction
2 Defining Integration
3 Traditional Factors Shaping Integration
3.1 Micro-level Demographic Factors
Religion
Age–Gender–Religion
3.2 Social Mixing
3.3 Integration Through Social Media
4 Measuring Social Mixing Online
5 Conclusion
References
An Overview of Systems Related to Border Management and Migration into the EU: A Concept of Prevention and Detection of Illegal Activities
1 Introduction
2 ICT Technologies on an EU Level: Schengen Area
2.1 Visa Information System (VIS)
2.2 Schengen Information System (SIS)
2.3 European Dactyloscopy (EURODAC)
2.4 Other Mechanisms and Systems
European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR)
Entry/Exit System (EES)
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
3 ICT Solutions on a National Level
4 Ethical and Legal Considerations
5 Concluding Thoughts
References
Part II: Reviewing Perspectives and Experiences
Migration Knowledge Production: Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement
1 Introduction
2 Methods
3 Stakeholder Mapping and Related Knowledge Production
3.1 Migrant Groups
3.2 Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Host Society Groups
3.3 Policy Makers
3.4 Media Channels
3.5 Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs) and Other First-Line Practitioners
3.6 Academic Stakeholders
4 Case Studies on Knowledge Production
4.1 Case Study 1: Institutional and NGO Knowledge Production in Bulgaria – Dynamics of the Stakeholder Environment
4.2 Case Study 2: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stakeholder Knowledge Production and Engagement with Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees Using ICTs in the UK
Challenges
Benefits
Resilience
5 Conclusion
References
From a Digital Breach to a Usage and Positioning Gap: ICT Use in Migrant Women Arriving in Spain Since 2015
1 Introduction
2 Literature Review
3 Migration and ICTs in the Spanish Context
4 Methodology
5 Findings
5.1 The Mobile Phone (and Internet) as the Hub of the Migration Process
5.2 Social Networks: Five Trends Derived from Their Use
Speed
Social Networks Amplify the Messages Obtained by Family and Trusted Networks
Predominance of the Image
The Use of These Platforms Offers an Amateur Version of European Life
Individualisation
5.3 Instant Messaging Services: WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal
6 Conclusion
References
Messy But Mandatory: Including Marginalised Groups in Co-creation Interventions
1 Introduction
2 Cypriot Context
3 Listen, “Start, Stumble, Self-correct, Share” (Chambers, 2017 p. xi)
4 Critical Considerations
4.1 Language and Literacy
4.2 Technology: Access and Familiarity
4.3 Transportation
5 Conclusions and Reflections
References
The Challenges of Co-design and Co-creation for Migrant Integration: A Case Study in Andalusia
1 ICTs and Migrants’ Integration
1.1 The Migration Experience and the Use of ICTs
1.2 Brief Overview of Legislation on Integration
1.3 Migrant Demographics in Spain and Andalusia
2 Participatory Development Process of the ICT-Based Solution and Lessons Learned
2.1 Design of the Co-creation Workshops
2.2 Main Findings
3 Lessons Learned from the Platform Sustained Service Delivery
4 Conclusion
References
Easing Migrants’ Access to Public Services: The Palermo’s Hackathon in the easyRights Project
1 The Engagement of Migrants in Service Design: The Role of Hackathons
2 Access to the Palermo Registry Office: An Open Door on the Integration Process
3 The Hackathon in Palermo: Engaging Migrants and Public Servants in Co-creation Activities
4 Palermo’s Hackathon Results: A Learning Driver for the Public Authority
5 Conclusion
References
Part III: Developing Migration-Related ICTs
Lowering Barriers to Migrants’ Integration Through Smart ICT Interaction
1 Background and Requirements
1.1 ICT and Migration
1.2 Challenges
1.3 Main UX Requirements
2 MICADO Implementation
2.1 MICADO Circular Design
2.2 Talking to the Application
2.3 Chatting with the PA
2.4 Understanding Natural Language
2.5 Finding the Answers
2.6 Reading the Answers
3 Conclusions
References
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Designing AI-Based Solutions for Migrants’ Integration: REBUILD Project
1 Introduction
2 Human-Centred Approach to Digital Transformation
2.1 Managing Technological Innovation
3 Co-Designing AI-Based Solutions for Migrants’ Integration
3.1 Theme 1: Literacy
3.2 Theme 2: Language Barriers
3.3 Theme 3: Awareness of Available Services and Access Support
3.4 Other Cross-Cutting Issues
4 From Co-design to REBUILD Solutions
5 Artificial Intelligence, Participation and Inclusion
References
Skill Matching for Migrant Guidance Based on AI Tools
1 Skill Matching in the Migration Context
1.1 ICT Support in the Inclusion Process
1.2 Job Seeking as the First and Main Application of the Skill-Matching Techniques
2 Skill Matching as an Evolving Technical Environment
3 Matching for Job Seeking in the REBUILD Project
3.1 Generating Embeddings for Users and Items
3.2 Implementation of the Skill-Matching Engine
4 Conclusions
References
IMMERSE: A Matching Platform Improving Migrant Integration with Semantic Technologies
1 Introduction
2 Overview of ICT Tools for Migrants
3 Functionality of the IMMERSE System
4 ΙΜMERSE Architecture
4.1 Data Management System
4.2 Knowledge Base Service
4.3 User Interface
4.4 Authentication
5 Conclusion
References
Personalised Interaction or How We Can Improve Migrants’ Experience When Using a Digital Companion Through a Mobile App
1 The Digital Companion and the Need of Personalisation in the Form of Dynamic Adaptation
2 Personalised Interaction in Mobile Applications for Migrants: A Two-Dimension Customisation Matter
3 Personalisation Levels for Interaction Adaptation in REBUILD Context
4 Components for the Adaptation Model
4.1 Semantic Model for Personalisation Purposes
4.1.1 Adaptation Task Semantic Model
4.1.2 User Profile Semantic Model
4.2 In-App User’s Activity Tracking
4.3 Deployment of the Adaptation Framework
5 Application of the Framework in a Specific Scenario: DC Layout Adaptation in REBUILD Context
6 Evaluation of the Adaptation
7 Conclusions
References
The Challenges of Co-creation Processes on Developing ICT Solutions for Migrant Inclusion: Lessons from the Field
1 Introduction
1.1 Co-creation in Public Services
1.2 ICT and Co-creation
1.3 ICT and Co-creation with Migrants
1.4 Objectives: Co-creation and Citizen-Driven Innovation for Migrant Inclusion
2 Methodology: Field Experience as a Vector of New Challenges
3 Analysis of Challenges to Co-creation with Migrants
3.1 Challenge One: Sampling, External Heterogeneity, Internal Homogeneity and Structural Representativeness
3.2 Challenge Two: Co-creation of Technology with and for Migrants
3.3 Challenge Three: Participation, Balance and Leadership in the Co-creative Circle
3.4 Other Considerations
4 Conclusion and Discussion
References
Part IV: Legal, Ethical, Societal and Policy Considerations
What Does the Law Say? The Legal Framework Applicable to the Design and Use of ICTs in Migrants’ Integration
1 Introduction
2 The Effect of ICTs on Migrants’ Integration
3 Overview of the Current Legal Framework
3.1 Overall Legal Framework
3.2 Migration and ICTs
4 E-Governance, Privacy and Data Protection Considerations
4.1 E-Governance Considerations
4.2 Privacy and Personal Data Protection
5 Human Rights and AI: Is Maintaining Balance Achievable for ICTs in Migration?
6 The MIICT Project Approach: Protection of Migrants’ Rights in ICTs
6.1 Privacy
6.2 Personal Data
6.3 Freedom of Expression and Information
6.4 Non-discrimination
7 A Lookahead: Recommendations for the Future
References
Trustworthy Migrant-Centric Apps and Other ICT Tools: Data Protection as the Last Line of Defence
1 Introduction: Technology for Migrant Integration
2 Processing Migrants’ Personal Data: Developing Safe and Reliable Integration Apps
2.1 Data Protection as a Tool
2.2 Data Protection by Design and by Default: Privacy as the Primary Concern
2.3 Migrants’ Rights as Data Subjects: Empowering Users
3 REBUILD: Putting Principles into Practice
4 Concluding Reflection and Recommendations
References
Ethics in Data Collection on Migration and ICT: A Guideline for Researchers and Practitioners
1 Introduction
2 Fundamental Concepts
2.1 Legal Basis of Data Collection
2.2 Vulnerable Subjects
2.3 Informed Consent
2.4 Privacy and Confidentiality
3 Ethics Procedures by Research Stage
3.1 At Project Start
Establishing Basic Ethical Principles
Data Protection, Anonymisation, and Pseudonymisation
3.2 Before Data Collection
Identifying Risks and Adapting the Research Design
Assessing Research Questions
Assessing Sites
Assessing Participants
Supporting Research Participants and Researchers
Informed Consent
General Principles
Target Group-Appropriate Materials and Procedures
Written and Verbal Consent
Incidental Findings
Law of the Land Versus Ethics First
A Structured Incidental Findings Policy
3.3 During Data Collection
Fieldwork
Fieldwork Design
Surveys and Interviews
Ethically Important Moments
Secondary Data
Publicly Available Data
Relevance and Context of Original Data Collection
Legal Considerations and Safeguards
Social Media Data
Collection and Processing of Data in Non-EU Countries
3.4 After Data Collection
Beneficent and Maleficent Uses of Data
Benefit Sharing
4 Conclusion
References
The Ethics of Social Media Analytics in Migration Studies
1 Social Media Research: A Continually Changing Landscape
1.1 Infringing the Privacy of Individuals
1.2 Networked Publics, Misuse of Data and Informed Consent
1.3 Data Anonymisation and Profiling
2 Common Areas of Concern and Potential Mitigation Measures
2.1 Observing Public Behaviour in Public Situations
2.2 Maintaining Anonymity of Research Participants
2.3 Avoiding Profiling of Participants
2.4 Evaluating and Mitigating Risks
3 Conclusion
References
Assessing the Socio-economic, Technological, and Political Impact of ICT Tools for Migrant Integration
1 Introduction
2 Defining Integration as the Overall Expected Impact
3 Assessing Impacts on Migrants and Refugees: Areas of Impacts and Dimensions
3.1 Social Impact
3.2 Economic Impact
3.3 Political Impact
3.4 Technological Impact
4 Assessing Impacts on Local Service Providers: Areas of Impacts and Dimensions
5 Multimodal and Multistakeholder Data Gathering Process
6 The Cost of Non-integration of Migrants
7 Discussion and Conclusions
References
Shaping ICT Policies for Integrative and Inclusive Digital Services
1 Introduction
2 Digitalisation of Public Services
3 Innovation Potential and Challenges
4 Supporting ICT-Enabled Integration
5 Conclusion
References
Index