Surveil, datafy, publicize: digital authoritarianism and migration governance in Turkey

Scholarly interest in digital authoritarianism has primarily focused on consolidated authoritarian regimes, where digital tools and data are employed for surveillance, repression, propaganda, and manipulation of citizens. This study redefines the scope of digital authoritarianism by examining its role in migration governance and its application beyond fully authoritarian states. It introduces a theoretical framework that examines digital authoritarianism through three key mechanisms: digital surveillance, datafication, and the selective publicization of migration data. Using Turkey as a case study, the empirical analysis highlights the distinct impacts of digital authoritarianism on citizens and non-citizens (i.e. refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants). While non-citizens are targeted by the punitive use of surveillance and datafication, the selective dissemination of migration data serves to manipulate public opinion in a failed policy area. The study then examines the European Union's role in enhancing Turkey’s digital authoritarian capacities. It demonstrates that digital authoritarianism is becoming increasingly transnational, with democracies actively driving and financing its implementation in semi-authoritarian contexts, often circumventing democratic oversight. This study advances the theorization of digital authoritarianism by unpacking its nuanced and cross-border dynamics.