Getting rescued by RoboCop? Legal and ethical challenges of the use of extended reality in Frontex’s

The report claims that the use of virtual reality, extended reality, and mixed reality in the context of Frontex’s training and border-management activities, as well as search and rescue operations, m

Overview

Authors: Francesca Romana Partipilo

Publication Date: 2023

Link: https://ascomare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ascomare_yearbook_on_the_law_of_the_sea-_-volume-3-_-issn.pdf#page=214

Keywords: Border Surveillance, Ethical Risks, Legal Challenges, Situational Awareness, Human Rights, Maritime Operations, Privacy Concerns, Security Ethics, Extended Reality Governance, XR in Law Enforcement.

Type: Peer-Reviewed Journals/White Papers

Summary

The report claims that the use of virtual reality, extended reality, and mixed reality in the context of Frontex’s training and border-management activities, as well as search and rescue operations, may contribute to low-cost and risk-free training and enhanced situational awareness at European external borders. However, the document fails to disentangle the legal and ethical dilemmas raised by the potential use of new technologies in the context of Frontex’s border work. This contribution aims to fill this gap by addressing some of the legal and ethical challenges associated with the use of extended reality in the context of Frontex’ maritime operations.