Workshop: physical and digital borders

Register now for this workshop on Frontex and its intervention at the European borders: transparency, accountability and resistances

With this workshop we want to share knowledge about the actions of large corporations, states and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex). To do so, we will analyse the biometric surveillance systems at borders, the lack of transparency of Frontex’s operations and we will focus on how to exercise the right to information, tools for accessing information and how to use them with practical cases to uncover rights violations and demand accountability.

REGISTRATION FORM

* This workshop will be held in Spanish

PROGRAMME

Session I: 28th September 9:30h to 13:30h

• Origin, evolution and expansion of Frontex. Elements of the border control system and architecture, and problem nodes from an advocacy perspective.
• Resistance and accountability to Frontex: recent and current efforts to investigate Frontex, pushing for accountability and building alternatives.
• Digital and biometric technologies: The smart systems Frontex has already developed, how do they work and which risks they entail.

Session II: 5th October 9:30h to 13:30h

• Accountability: access to information and transparency: how it is regulated, why it is not easy to get access to records + contracts (which private companies are developing these technologies).
• What information can we request, what are we going to use it for, how do we make a request for information?
• Practical exercise: requesting information. Practical tips and tricks when formulating a request for information. Identifying, formulating and sending one (or more) request(s) for information.

Session III: to be confirmed for those making requests for information based on session 2.

TRAINERS

• Luisa Izuzquiza: freedom of information activist and campaign coordinator at FragDenStaat. She conducts research, campaigns and litigation on European border control policies, specializing in the European border control agency, Frontex.
• Ana Valdivia: Researcher in artificial intelligence in migration processes at King’s College London, within the SECURITY FLOWS project. She analyses the political, technical and social impact that datification and algorithms have on historically oppressed groups.
• David Moya: Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Barcelona (UB). Expert and external consultant for European institutions such as the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as for national and international NGOs, on migration and refugee issues. Member of the legal commission of Stop Mare Mortum.

If you are interested and would like to attend, you can register now using this form