Greek-American journalist Lydia Emmanouilidou has found her calling in investigating how sophisticated AI surveillance systems at borders and within refugee facilities are reshaping migration experiences, often at the expense of human rights. Through her investigative reporting, she has exposed how these technologies worsen conditions for vulnerable populations, despite claims by officials of enhancing search and rescue capabilities and responding to illegal activities more quickly. Emmanouilidou’s work spans continents, from the Arizona-Mexico border to the refugee camps of the Greek islands. She challenges the supposed humanitarian justifications for AI surveillance, highlighting the impact on asylum seekers and refugees living on society’s edges.
Her recent lecture at the University of Wisconsin discussed how these surveillance tools create new forms of discrimination and rights violations, deterring asylum seekers from making their journey to countries where they can lodge asylum claims. Emmanouilidou’s commitment to human rights journalism and amplifying marginalized voices has been a central theme throughout her career. She emphasizes the importance of giving a voice to those who are often left out of dominant narratives and highlights the importance of adaptability and persistence in the competitive field of journalism. With her bicultural perspective and relentless pursuit of truth, Emmanouilidou continues to shed light on the human cost of border technologies, advocating for those whose stories deserve to be told.
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