Between control and empowerment: Data quality in border and migration management

Abstract

This Working Paper conceptually explores the role of data quality in European migration and border management. Drawing on the notion of legibility as well as the dual nature of identification, it examines how forms of datafied representation – and notably their reliability – impact both state power and migrant experiences. The analysis highlights that data quality should be understood as a tool for both empowerment and control, with implications for both regulation and oversight.