The Cyber-Refugee: How Technology Aids the Modern Displaced Person
We have all fallen prey to “click-bait” when performing any research on the internet. I’m afraid I am no exception. This week we are focusing on the Syrian refugee crises. While searching these terms I came across a great number of articles referencing one particular video. I had to know more. What was significant about this one example that so many articles referenced. At first look, the video might anger you. It shows Syrian refugees complaining to media about their accommodations. Although they have been housed in emergency shelters in Denmark awaiting asylum, the refugees were protesting and refusing to go inside because their rooms have no TV’s and the internet is slow. I won’t focus on the manicured nails, extensive make-up, the designer clothes, food complaints, the boyfriend smoking cigarettes and general ungrateful tone (I want to focus on technology). This has become great fodder for anti-immigrant movements in Europe painting the whole refugee population with this broad brush. This led me to wonder about the role that technology plays in the daily lives of the displaced.
There is a very good article on CNET.com entitled “Refugees cling to Wi-Fi in the Jungle of Calais.” What they discovered is that phones have become an important survival tool for refugees. They stay in touch with people back home through Facebook, Viber, and other social networking sites. They also use translation apps to help them navigate the language maze of European states. I was surprised to find that refugees are even using tech to keep them safe while making dangerous Mediterranean crossings. “Refugees use phone apps to determine their coordinates, then send longitude and latitude data to the group through WhatsApp every 15 minutes during their voyage. If the messages stop, a volunteer calls coast guard authorities nearest to the passengers' last known location.” Many camps have Refugee Info Buses, mobile wifi hotspots where refugees can use tech services. Of course, a phone is no good unless it can be charged.
In line with our study of visual imagery this week, the article describes how phones are also being used as photo albums “documenting memories both happy and harrowing.”
NGO’s are using technology to provide services as well. In France, Signa is organizing networking events on the internet and has even launched a site called “CALM” that matches refugees with available housing. They are planning to launch “Waya” in several languages offering migrants information on rights, policies, and procedures in potential host countries.
One report from Calais is quite revealing as to the importance refugees place on technology. “When Janneh was granted asylum and started receiving 300 euros a month from the government, his top priority was getting a computer for entertainment and human contact.” I had to save money and starve myself sometimes -- just one meal a day," he says. "I had nobody to talk to. It was very boring and depressing. I needed this computer to keep me busy."
It’s easy to be swayed by one video showing refugees in host countries seemingly ungrateful, complaining about no TV in their room. The right-wing nationalist use these examples to their fullest advantage to influence public opinion against immigration. A deeper investigation reveals that more than we realize, technology is an important life-line to displaced persons. While we enjoy our home Wi-Fi and charge our phones at will, they expend great efforts to do what we take for granted. Maybe someone could start a charity that donates old devices to refugees so they could at least access services through Wi-Fi when it’s available.
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