Report | Amplifying Global South Voices in Digital Rights Policymaking | Governance and Regulation

Faces and Rights: An Analysis of Biometric Datafication in Migration Regularization

The ‘Faces and Rights’ project, led by Cambio Sostenible, aims to analyze the impact of biometric datafication on the migration regularization process for the Venezuelan population in Colombia, with a special focus on the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants (ETPV). The research focused on three key issues: consent and individual freedom, discrimination and constitutional justification, and the risk of mass surveillance and criminalization.

The study employed a mixed methodology adapted from Arias González’s Online Research Methods, gathering both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and online interviews. Surveys were conducted with Venezuelan migrants benefiting from the ETPV to assess their perceptions of the mandatory biometric data collection. Additionally, interviews were held with key stakeholders in human rights and technology to explore potential violations of fundamental rights.

The analysis was structured around a focus on human rights, equity, and democratic participation. Over a six-month period, the project generated strategic recommendations for the protection of rights, transparency in the use of biometric data, and reducing inequalities in access to benefits.

This report was prepared by the Corporación Cambio Sostenible and was an outgrowth of the Datafication and Democracy Fund, launched in 2024 to support organizations addressing the challenges of the intersection of datafication and democracy in the #GlobalSouth.

To check the complete file, access the link here.