RSC Public Seminar Series, Michaelmas term 2023
Series convenor: Tom Scott-Smith

This seminar will critically examine the current and emerging practices in the use of new technologies within the fields of immigration and forced displacement. Starting with an overview of Dr Derya Ozkul’s recent report, titled “Automating Immigration and Asylum: The Uses of New Technologies in Migration and Asylum Governance in Europe”, the seminar will provide insights into various use cases, incorporating the latest updates in this fast-changing field. Throughout the seminar, the focus will be on how new technologies are shaping border control, immigration processes, and asylum decision-making. Providing illustrative examples, the seminar will delve into recent advancements involving predictive analytics, automated risk assessments, and profiling within the immigration context. Furthermore, it will shed light on recent technologies that have emerged in the realm of asylum application processing, including dialect recognition and mobile phone data analysis. Subsequent to Dr Derya Ozkul’s presentation, Professor Lorna McGregor and Dr Petra Molnar will delve into the report’s findings, with a particular focus on the associated legal questions regarding fairness and the broader implications for human rights. The seminar’s scope will initially encompass practices in and around Europe before expanding to encompass a global perspective.