Border management and human rights: Collection and sharing of information and new technologies in the counter-terrorism and freedom of movement context

In an increasingly mobile world, more and more people are travelling internationally for personal, family, work and education-related reasons, as well as for migration or to seek international protection. At the same time, states are increasingly resorting to collection, processing and sharing of travel data, and the development and application of new technologies to control borders more effectively. This is meant to address transnational security threats, including terrorism.

While states have an obligation to counter terrorism and may legitimately control who enters their territory, some of these measures raise a number of human rights issues. They may involve substantial interferences with the rights of potentially large numbers of people crossing borders - including for migration and when seeking international protection.

Topics and sessions

Structured around four thematic sessions, ODIHR’s series of expert consultation meetings will discuss human rights implications of:

• Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems 
• Collection, storage and usage of biometric data in border management
• Algorithmic profiling and decision-making in the border context
• Watchlists, databases and other information sharing for border security

Each thematic session will bring together up to 20 experts from OSCE and other international organizations, border management and law enforcement agencies, as well as civil society and academia. 

Participants will be invited to share their expertise and discuss potential policy recommendations on how states can address the human rights implications of these tools and technologies. They will also look at how countries can ensure that their actions in this field are carried out in accordance with international human rights standards. The results of the consultation process will feed into an ODIHR policy brief/leaflet on this topic. 

Registration 

Participation is by invitation only.

Questions related to this series of events can be directed to the Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Programme - to either:

• Johannes Heiler, Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues (johannes.heiler@odihr.pl)
• Mona Koehler-Schindler, Associate Human Rights Officer on Anti-Terrorism Issues (mona.koehler-schindler@odihr.pl)

Questions can also be addressed to the Migration/Freedom of Movement Unit - to either:

• Sofia Botzios, Migration, Freedom of Movement and Human Contact Adviser (sofia.botzios@odihr.pl)
• Anne-Katrin Lother, Assistant Programme Officer (anne.lother@odihr.pl)