Exacerbating the Vulnerabilities of Undocumented Migrants: The Risks Involved in the Humanitarian Information Activities of Migrant-Aid Organizations

Newell, Bryce C.; Vannini, Sara; Gomez, Ricardo; Nemer, David

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/100253 Copy

Description

Title

Exacerbating the Vulnerabilities of Undocumented Migrants: The Risks Involved in the Humanitarian Information Activities of Migrant-Aid Organizations

Author(s)

• Newell, Bryce C.
• Vannini, Sara
• Gomez, Ricardo
• Nemer, David

Issue Date

2018

Keyword(s)

• humanitarian information activities
• information and communication technologies
• vulnerability
• migration
• information practices

Abstract

The information practices and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by humanitarian migrant-aid organizations, including activities that encompass collecting, storing, processing, analyzing, using, transmitting, and releasing data about migrants to the public can help humanitarian and migrant-aid organizations be more effective in their work. However, the use of ICTs and certain information practices in these contexts may also increase or exacerbate significant risks to the people these organizations intend to help. In this project, we examine and compare HIA-related activities in two distinct con-texts: 1) humanitarian organizations working to provide lifesaving assistance to undocumented migrants crossing clandestinely into the United States from Mexico, and 2) humanitarian organizations and colleges working to provide assistance and support to undocumented migrants already in the United States. We argue that humanitarian organizations need to develop an extraordinary and sophisticated awareness of the limits of information technologies regarding ethics, security, privacy, and permanence of digital information to truly help vulnerable populations rather than inadvertently increase their vulnerabilities.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2018 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100253

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 is held by Bryce Newell, Sara Vannini, Ricardo Gomez, David Nemer. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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