Guardian: EU asks tech firms to pitch refugee-tracking systems

“Border agency Frontex has asked for designs for smartphone apps and databases to track and manage refugees arriving in Europe […]
But some of the frontline organisations working with migrants questioned how such a system would work. Dr Maurice Stierl of WatchTheMed Alarm Phone, an organisation of activists that supports free movement of migrants, criticised the proposals. The organisation operates an emergency phone service for migrants whose boats get into trouble in various stretches of sea around Europe, contacting the nearest coastguards to alert them when they receive an SOS call. In the last 15 months they have received about 1,400 distress calls. “

External Link: Guardian: EU asks tech firms to pitch refugee-tracking systems

Alarmphone on X

🆘 20 people in distress in the central #Mediterranean!

Alarm Phone is in contact with a group at risk who report that they have engine problems. Authorities are alerted - we urge them to launch a rescue operation without delay as we fear for their survival at night at sea!

🆘17 personnes en détresse en #MéditerranéeOccidentale. Elles ont quitté #Mostaganem #Algérie, le 27 octobre, depuis nous n’avons pas de nouvelles. @Salvamentogob est alerté le 30 octobre, mais ils ne les ont toujours pas retrouvées. On espère qu'elles seront retrouvées vivantes!

🆘 17 people in distress in the #WesternMed. They left #Mostaganem, #Algeria on 27 October, since then there are no news from them. We alerted @Salvamentogob on 30 October but they still haven’t found them. We hope they'll be found alive!