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The use of algorithmic border control systems has raised significant concerns about human rights and individual freedoms. As governments and companies move quickly to develop and install these systems, it is essential that they prioritize transparency and accountability to ensure that their actions do not compromise fundamental rights.
Algorithmic border control systems are being developed to assess traveler risk and automate decision-making for entry into a country, with companies like Travizory, Idemia, and SITA leading the way. The systems use AI-powered engines to collect and analyze vast amounts of information from various sources, creating color-coded risk ratings for each traveler. Critics argue that these systems pose a significant threat to human rights, citing concerns about accuracy, bias, and lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Many experts believe that algorithmic border control systems have the potential to deliver significant benefits, such as identifying and preventing terrorist travel and detecting human traffickers. However, critics like Anna Bacciarelli from Human Rights Watch warn about the potential for harm, highlighting the lack of transparency and accountability in these systems.
The world of border control is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advances in technology and the increasing need for efficient and secure management of international travel. At the forefront of this revolution are companies like Travizory, Idemia, and SITA, which are developing AI-driven systems that assess traveler risk and automate the decision-making process for entry into a country.
According to Irminger, the CEO of Travizory, the key to their system is to "connect the data from the traveler." This involves collecting and analyzing vast amounts of information from various sources, including API-PNR systems, biometric exit and entry systems, and other data streams. The AI-powered engine then uses this data to create a color-coded risk rating for each traveler, ranging from green (low risk) to red (high risk).
Travizory's system has the potential to revolutionize border control by streamlining the process and reducing the need for manual intervention. However, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of these systems and the potential for bias. For instance, Irminger acknowledges that there are gaps in the data, which can lead to inaccuracies. To address this issue, Travizory's AI engine is designed to work around such issues by using logic to ensure that decisions are made based on complete and accurate data.
Despite these concerns, many experts believe that algorithmic border control systems have the potential to deliver significant benefits. According to Morten Jorgensen, Travizory's chief data scientist, the system can help law enforcement agencies identify and prevent terrorist travel, as well as detect human traffickers. The use of machine learning algorithms also enables the detection of anomalies and outliers among travelers, which can be used to identify potential security risks.
However, critics argue that these systems pose a significant threat to human rights. Anna Bacciarelli, a senior researcher in the Technology, Rights and Investigations Division at Human Rights Watch, warns that "the potential for harm here is absolutely massive." She notes that many of these companies do not publicly disclose information about passenger redress if they are unfairly targeted by the algorithms or have posted openly accessible human rights or privacy impact assessments.
Furthermore, Bacciarelli highlights the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. "The fact that it's a black box is extremely worrying," she says. "There's no real way of saying X person should definitely be on that register and here's how we reached the decision." This lack of transparency has led to concerns about the use of machine-based systems to deny boarding to passengers, which could potentially undermine the right to seek asylum.
The issue is also raised by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, then-UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism. In a scathing report issued in December 2023, she alleged that travel data systems used by governments represented "a profound human rights risk and a serious reputational risk for the UN itself" and should be immediately paused.
The use of algorithmic border control systems is not limited to air travel. Companies like SITA are developing similar systems for land and sea transportation, which raises concerns about the potential for abuse. According to John Harrison, an associate professor of counter terrorism at Rabdan University in Abu Dhabi, "If the intelligence community or law enforcement is already interested in a person, I think the AI targeting would be helpful, because you can find things in the system that you may have overlooked."
However, concerns remain about the accuracy and potential for bias in these systems. Harrison notes that while machines can help identify potential security risks, they cannot necessarily predict with certainty who is a terrorist or narcotics smuggler.
Despite these concerns, many governments are moving quickly to develop and install algorithmic border control systems. In a closed EU-organized meeting on innovative technologies for border control in July 2023 in Warsaw, Poland, materials obtained under a freedom of information request reveal that the Dutch government referred to plans to scale up travel data exchange and targeting at borders in a powerpoint as a national "surveillance system [to] process passenger data to combat irregular residence or stay, linked to irregular migration."
In Europe, companies like Idemia and SITA are developing systems that comply with EU regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, many experts believe that these regulations do not go far enough in protecting individual rights. According to Anna Bacciarelli, "We have no idea if these systems are accurate, the extent of the data they're collecting, or the human harm."
In conclusion, the rise of algorithmic border control represents a significant threat to human rights and individual freedoms. While these systems may offer benefits in terms of security and efficiency, concerns remain about their accuracy and potential for bias. It is essential that governments and companies prioritize transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of such systems.
Related Information:
https://www.wired.com/story/inside-the-black-box-of-predictive-travel-surveillance/
Published: Mon Jan 13 04:28:17 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
