Greece Expands Non-Transparent Use of Surveillance Tech on Border: NGO
Source: Balkan Insight
The use of sophisticated surveillance technology at Greece’s land border with Turkey and Bulgaria has expanded significantly but continues to lack transparency, according to a new report published on Tuesday by the Border Violence Monitoring Network, BVMN, a human rights NGO.
The report – ‘Surveillance Technologies at European Borders: Evros’ – describes the border that runs along the river Evros as a “technological testing ground” and a “site of (biometric) data collection”.
It details the installation of cameras and entry control systems and the use of drones at the main Fylakio ‘reception and identification centre’ and the ‘pre-removal detention centre’, and cites testimony raising concern about unofficial and possibly illegal forms of data collection and sharing.
“There is a persistent lack of transparency around the implementation of this type of equipment and the incorporation of artificial intelligence tools to migration policies,” BVMN said in a statement.
“This secrecy constantly hinders attempts by civil society to thoroughly assess the impact of these developments on the lives of people crossing borders.”
The report also noted that besides using budgetary funds or donations, local police forces are acquiring surveillance hardware through European Union-funded projects.
In 2022, BIRN and the Greek media outlet Solomon reported that Greece had used the EU’s pandemic-recovery fund to launch systems to monitor the movements of asylum seekers without the basic data safeguards required under EU law.
In April, the Greek Data Protection Authority fined the Ministry of Migration and Asylum 175,000 euros for developing and installing a surveillance system called Centaur to control reception and hospitality structures for third-country citizens on the Aegean islands. This was the biggest fine ever imposed on a Greek public body to date.
The Centaur System is described as an integrated digital Electronic and Physical Security management system, using cameras and motion analysis algorithms [Artificial Intelligence Behavioural Analytics]. Among other things, it deploys a CCTV system and unmanned aircraft – drones – by which personal data, or at least images, will be processed.
Authorities have also installed another system called Hyperion, which is described as an integrated entry-exit control system. Asylum seekers, certified members of NGOs and other guests present cards read by an RFID [Radio Frequency Identification] reader combined with a fingerprint through which personal data and biometric data are processed.
The original article: belongs to Balkan Insight .
