S03E17: "Somebody's Watching Me." Surveillance in Greek Refugee Camps

Fractured

"No More Morias" was the battle cry after the fires destroyed the most infamous refugee camp on European soil in 2020.

It was also the justification for €276 million of EU funds to create new CCAC (Closed Controlled Access Centers) on the Greek islands.

While ecologically motivated legal battles in the highest court of Greece continue to hold up the opening of the new CCAC on Lesvos, the model for these camps have been in operation on Samos, Leros and Kos with devastating consequences.

Even the European Commission, which funded their creation, is investigating sub-human conditions, human rights violations, and privacy concerns on how people are surveilled and information is secured.

In this episode of "Fractured" we host investigative journalists and researchers Lydia Emmanouilidou and Ludek Stavinoha, who much to the dismay of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have definitely "...been to Samos."

Their reporting on the systems of surveillance in use, and policies that continue to deprive asylum seekers of international human rights, prove these camps are far from "modern, humane and safe."

After the show, join us on Patreon for an extended discussion with Lydia and Ludek on their award-nominated works for the 2024 European Press Prize.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Lydia Emmanouilidou - investigative journalist- NPR, The New Humanitarian, AlJazeera

Ludek Stavinoha - investigative journalist and researcher-University of East Anglia

LEARN MORE:

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2023/12/04/inexcusable-whats-behind-deteriorating-conditions-greek-island-asylum-camps

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366580074/Greek-government-fined-over-AI-surveillance-in-refugee-camps

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/5/11/eu-details-alleged-violations-at-greeces-model-refugee-camps

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AWARD NOMINATIONS:

https://www.europeanpressprize.com/article/the-pylos-shipwreck/

https://www.europeanpressprize.com/article/the-eu-fight-against-child-pornography-stokes-fears-ofwidespread-online-surveillance-2/

"Fractured" is an original production of ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialabs on all social media platforms)

PRODUCTION FAMILY:

Co-hosts:

Sonia and Douglas Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production Family:

Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Lotta Luley, Federico Rinaldi

Citizen Journalists:

Yaser Taheri, Milad Ebrahimi, Yaser Akbari, Naqib Rasuli, Mohammad Ali Alami

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic Design: Eli Fazlollah (for designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/our-shop⁠)

MUSIC:

Theme - "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound)

Additional - "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)OUR

PARTNERS:

Allianz Foundation, Choose Love, Leave No One Behind, Europe Cares, Parea Center Lesvos, Aputure

SPECIAL THANKS:

To the extended ReFOCUS Family for their dedication, passion and creativity all year long. We’re not where we are today without all the effort from Florian Krauer, Louise Holm, Chryssa Kouroukli, Yaiza Pardinas, Matthew Goncalves O’Kelly, Jennifer Perez, Jule Pehnt, Majid Bakhshi, Nazanin Foroghi, Yaser Akbari, Dariia Stepanova, Paul “Al” Simon, Jaime Moro Saavedra, Joëlle Hübscher, Beni Rietmann, Jakob Mayr, Jurek Edel, Francisco Ibanez, Bart Van Son, Federico, and Myriam Rey

SUPPORT:

This podcast is the product of our ReFOCUS citizen journalism program

Donate to support the artists and journalists by visiting: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org

CONTACT:

Thoughts or questions about this episode;

Suggestions for topics we can cover later in the season?

Contact: ⁠[e-mail]