Networks of (in)security focuses on the development of interconnected, transnational digital infrastructures that can facilitate political repression, threatening civic space and human rights.
These include tools for the surveillance of travel and travellers, and the development and spread of ‘watchlists’ of alleged, known or suspected to be involved in terrorism and organised crime.
As the research underscores, both terms are increasingly being used by states to delegitimise political opponents, dissidents and ‘undesirables’.
The research highlights four key effects of this growing transnational security architecture:
- experimental technologies are reinforcing racism and discrimination;
- state borders are being reshaped and reinforced, introducing new barriers to free movement;
- authoritarian states are receiving new tools of surveillance, control and repression;
- redress for affected individuals remains extremely difficult, if not impossible.
It calls for an organised response to this long-term state project, to defend civic space, civil liberties and human rights.
