Controlled and Confined: Unveiling the Impact of Technology in the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre
Summary
Date Reported: 21 Jan 2025
Location: Greece
Companies
Adaptit - Other Value Chain Entity , Space Hellas - Other Value Chain Entity , Octopus - Other Value Chain Entity , G4S - Other Value Chain Entity , ESA Security Solutions - Other Value Chain Entity , AWZ Ventures - Investor , viisights - Other Value Chain EntityAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Refugees: ( Number unknown - Location unknown - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Undocumented migrants )Issues
Surveillance , Right to Privacy , Mental Health , Personal Health , Ownership of Property & Possessions , Protection from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile , Restricted mobility , Restricted access to medicines , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Access to Water , Access to Information , Freedom of Expression , Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discriminationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: G4S, ESA Security Solutions, Adaptit and Space Hellas responded to the Resource Centre. The other companies did not respond. In its response, Space Hellas said it has never been involved in the Centaur surveillance system.
Source type: NGO
This report examines the deployment and impact of surveillance technology in the EU-funded Samos Closed Control and Access Centre (CCAC). This report aims to bring to light the human impact of the use of technology in Samos, including the removal of people on the move’s phones, CCTV, drones, motion recognition analytics and biometric data processing. Through interviews with people on the move and people who work in the CCAC, this report highlights the implications of the use of technology on privacy, autonomy, and fundamental freedoms.
The report begins with an overview of the Samos CCAC and the authorities’ use of technology within the facility. The methodology is then outlined and followed by Section 1 which examines the practice of removing mobile phones from people on the move and its impact on their lives. Section 2 focuses on the deployment of the EU-funded high-tech surveillance and security systems, Centaur and Hyperion, highlighting the lack of information provided by the authorities to people on the move and workers on these technologies. Section 3 explores the overall impact of technology on people on the move and workers within the CCAC. The report concludes by identifying key areas of concern and makes recommendations for action.