The smartphone is a crucial tool for the thousands of people fleeing the Middle East and the African continent towards Europe. This is the conclusion of the research project "Migrants' digital practices in/of the European border regime" that for the past three years has been investigating how people on the run use information and communication technology to plan and document their journey to Europe.

- Until now, we¡¯ve been aware that information and communication technologies play a role for people on the run, but we haven¡¯t had accurate knowledge on the role of technology. In this project, we¡¯ve seen how migrants use mobile technology to document the opposition they experience from border regimes, knowledge that thus far has been difficult to access or directly inaccessible, explains Martin Bak J?rgensen, Professor in the Department of Culture and Learning at Aalborg University.

The research project is a partnership between researchers at Aalborg University, the IT University and the University of Copenhagen, entailing field work among refugees in the Greek border region, at the Danish-German and Danish-Swedish borders and in Libyan refugee camps.

Peace, justice and strong institutions

According to Professor Martin Bak J?rgensen, migrants use the mobile phone as a documentation tool for the opposition they encounter with border regimes. They share images and information with others on the run and pass on information to political actors, providing greater insight into the conditions and opposition of migrants in different border regions.

- This gives us research-based knowledge on the impact of the different policies the EU sets up for Europe's borders. Migrants have a right to seek asylum, but we see greater use of pushbacks or barbed wire fences, for example, Martin Bak J?rgensen says, and he continues:?

- for instance, in the case of political discussions on whether to move refugee camps to third world countries, this project shows just how important it is to have strong institutions that uphold the rights of migrants when passing on responsibility to third parties. At the same time, the project findings suggest that the EU may need to consider a different distribution model rather than the first recipient country being responsible for asylum processing, because this can create inappropriate measures involving pushbacks, for example. Thus, this project can strengthen the knowledge and decision-making bases of those in power in the refugee area with direct effect on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.

Smartphone can provide migrants with a greater degree of security

The project has also shown that people who are on the run often have to navigate a reality marked by a lack of knowledge, misinformation, changing rules and a lack of contact with networks, friends and family. The smartphone plays a crucial role because it is a source of information and clarity that can both provide migrants with a greater degree of security along the way and have a direct impact on the choice of routes.

- Also, digital technologies and platforms have been an important tool for creating inclusion and participation, and opening up alternative solutions like flat-sharing when refugees arrive in new civil society. In addition, our work also shows that groups in particularly vulnerable situations, such as minority groups among minorities, often use technologies and platforms to find safety in environments that are intolerant or unaware of their needs. Thus, today we have a much better understanding of the role the smartphone plays for people on the run in general, concludes Martin Bak J?rgensen.

• The research project "Migrants- digital practices in/of the European border regime" began in 2018 and was completed in September 2021.?
• The project speaks directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 ¨C Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Contact

Martin Bak J?rgensen, Professor, martinjo@hum.aau.dk, +45 2096 0725

DEMOS -?Democracy, Migration and Society - Research Group

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