SMART BORDERS, LEGAL BARRIERS: THE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN MIGRATION GOVERNANCE

In an era of rapid technological advancement, states and international organizations increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence, biometrics, and surveillance tools into migration governance. These “smart border” technologies have revolutionized border control, asylum procedures, and visa systems, often justified in terms of efficiency, security, and fraud prevention. However, their deployment has raised significant human rights concerns — particularly around privacy, surveillance, discrimination, and access to justice. This article critically explores how digital technologies intersect with legal and ethical standards in migration governance. Drawing on case studies from the European Union and the United States, it analyzes the dual-edged impact of smart borders and advocates for a rights-based, transparent, and accountable governance framework that reconciles technological innovation with fundamental freedoms.