Surveillance aircraft at the border: Security and human rights go hand-in-hand

By Vít Novotný

From European View

Our media are full of stories of how surveillance technology deployed at the EU’s external border damages the human rights of migrants and tramples on EU values. Critics continuously condemn the deployment of both piloted and unmanned aircraft by Frontex, the EU’s border agency, and national border guards. They say that the use of this modern technology ‘militarises’ European borders. They complain that ‘policies beholden to panicked security demands and the wishes of big business’ are getting the upper hand over the respect for fundamental rights, personal liberties, and democratic values that the EU should be upholding. They also claim that surveillance technology is replacing coast guard boats and that, as a result, the EU is not saving the lives of migrants in the Mediterranean.

I take issue with these views. I contend that there is no liberty without security and that surveillance aircraft help tackle not only illegal migration, but also organised cross-border crime, and incursions by hostile powers. The EU has about 7,400 kilometres of external land borders and 57,800 kilometres of external maritime borders and coastline. Without modern technology, it would be impossible to guard this long external border, discourage people from circumventing the checks at official crossing points, and apprehend those who attempt to cross land or maritime borders away from the legal border crossings.

To verify the points raised by the critics, I undertook field research, visiting a private contractor company that provides a piloted surveillance aircraft (a ‘special mission aircraft’ in Frontex jargon) to survey a section of the Mediterranean Sea. I learned that thanks to its radars and cameras, the aircraft sees all ships in the area, including migrant- and drug-trafficking boats. The information gleaned from the company’s aircraft is immediately transmitted to Frontex and the national coastguard agency. Depending on the incident or situation, this results in a rescue boat being sent out if a migrant ship is spotted, a police boat being dispatched if drugs or other contraband smuggling is involved, or the relevant agency responding to a situation such as a fire or marine pollution.

Saving lives is part of the contract that the private company signed with the EU’s border agency. Highly detailed documentation is taken of each flight, each phone call and each action taken by the crew of the company’s aircraft and the company’s agents.

Far from ‘killing the dream of a more open Europe’, border surveillance aircraft and other surveillance technologies are keeping the dream of an open Europe alive. Contrary to critics’ claims, the available evidence suggests that the use of border surveillance technology—in lieu of physical border guards—multiplies the documentation of the actions of the agents involved. In addition, through the use of technology that operates from control centres with a multi-agency presence, many pairs of eyes follow every minute detail of the happenings on the border. The various individuals and agencies involved therefore check one another’s steps.

Surveillance aircraft must, therefore, be welcomed as a useful addition to the toolbox of our border agencies. It contributes to upholding civil liberties, human rights, and it ultimately strengthens our democracies.

Article details

Surveillance Aircraft and the Borders of Schengen
Vít Novotný

First Published April 19, 2020 Research Article

https://doi.org/10.1177/1781685820915975

European View

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