AFAR aims to explore the fairness of automation in the highly contested field of migration and asylum governance. The project examines fairness as a multidimensional concept - legal, normative and political - and considers whether existing legal standards and practices appropriately institutionalise fairness for asylum-seekers and refugees and host communities.

About the project

Learn more about AFAR

The AFAR project is a 4-year collaborative project led by six different institutions in Europe.
Who we are

Meet the AFAR team

A group of researchers from around Europe.
Work packages

Work Packages

The AFAR project is divided into five work packages. Read more about the different work packages here. 

News

Workshop

AFAR project hosts a workshop at the European University Institute

In the historic Villa Schifanoia at the European University Institute, researchers from esteemed institutions across Europe gathered to showcase their ongoing work for the AFAR Project.
Research News

When can a decision be considered 'automated’?

In a timely new article published in the German Law Journal, Postdoctoral Researcher Francesca Palmiotto addresses some of the most pressing questions arising at the nexus of public administration and automated decision-making.
Publication

Scoring’ for Data Protection Rights: The Court of Justice’s First Judgment on Article 22 GDPR (Case C-634/21 and Joined Cases C-26/22 and C-64/22)

This Op-Ed authored by Dr. Francesca Palmiotto was recently published on EU Law Live. Read the full article here. 
Report

AFAR interim report

Read the interim report covering the period from October 2022 to November 2023 for the AFAR project here.
Blog post

„Like handing my whole life over“ The German Federal Administrative Court’s landmark ruling on mobile phone data extraction in asylum procedures

In a blog post published in Verfassungsblog, AFAR researchers Dr. Francesca Palmiotto and Dr. Derya Ozkul provide an overview of this practice and analyse the recent judgement of the BVerwG.
Report

Automating immigration and asylum: The uses of new technologies in migration and asylum governance in Europe

This report, authored by Dr Derya Ozkul, maps out the existing uses of new technologies across European immigration and asylum systems both at the national and the EU level. This is the first mapping report under the AFAR project. 
News

Is it fair? Algorithms and asylum seekers

In a news piece about the AFAR research project published by the Volkswagen Foundation, researchers Prof. Cathryn Costello and Dr Derya Ozkul talk about the importance and relevance of conducting research on the use of algorithms in the context of asylum and migration. 
News

Derya Ozkul shared preliminary findings of the first AFAR mapping report at an event

The event was organised by the University of Essex and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Workshop

Stakeholder workshop with civil society members

This hybrid kick-off workshop took place on 1 April 2022 at the Hertie School. The workshop welcomed civil society members, and members of the AFAR team introduced the project and preliminary findings of the first workpakage.
News

Centre for Fundamental Rights awarded Volkswagen Foundation “Challenges for Europe” research grant

Cathryn Costello, Professor of Fundamental Rights and Co-director of the Centre for Fundamental Rights to lead research project on Algorithmic Fairness for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees (AFAR).

Events

Event

European external borders and fundamental rights monitoring - A perspective from Frontex

This lecture will be delivered by Dr Iur Jonas Grimheden (Frontex) as part of the Jean Monnet Visiting Lecture series hosted by the University of Zagreb on 13 November 2023. 
Event

Smartphone borders

This lecture will be delivered by Prof. Jaya Ramji-Nogales (Temple University) as part of the Jean Monnet Visiting Lecture series hosted by the University of Zagreb, within the framework of the Fulbright Specialist programme, on 20 June 2023. 
Event

Governance through litigation - Reflections on legal regulations in the United States

This lecture will be delivered by Prof. Jaya Ramji-Nogales (Temple University) as part of the Jean Monnet Visiting Lecture series hosted by the University of Zagreb, within the framework of the Fulbright Specialist programme, on 19 June 2023. 
Event

4th UNESCO conference 'Schengen and European Borders'

This event took place online and at the University of Zagreb on 9 December 2022.