A study on the use of new technologies in the identification and search for missing or deceased persons in migration

In recent years, “new technologies” have become central in the development and evolution of security and migration control systems, within the European Union (EU) and globally. This concerns both the control and biometric tracing of bodies, as well as the development of technologies for profiling and tracking virtual identities, often linked to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Against this backdrop, thousands of migrants have died on dangerous journeys to Europe. We do not know who the vast majority of these individuals are. This leaves friends and family in a state of limbo, not knowing the fate of their loved ones. In this report, we examine the potential implications of the application of new technologies in the specific context of border deaths: the search for missing migrants along migration routes and the forensic identification of bodies of border deaths. Here, the deployment of new technologies has important consequences for the families of missing persons seeking answers from European authorities regarding the fate of their relatives, and ultimately, their search for justice. Through desk-based research and 30 qualitative interviews conducted with forensic experts, institutional representatives, civil society organisations, legal specialists, and family or community members we were able to map and critically evaluate new technologies in the search for the missing and the identification of deceased migrants.