| Summary/Abstract |
This article examines the deployment of drones by state and non-state actors at the southern maritime European borders. By focusing on the conflation of humanitarian and security rationales in the use of this border technology, the article unfolds around the notion of the multipurpose drone. A notion that encompasses the diverse logics, actors and practices that merge in the development and use of border drones by EU agencies and humanitarian NGOs. The article argues that the character of the multipurpose drone depends on various aspects including the actions taken in response to the data gathered by it. While the data collected by drones can contribute to the better conduct of search and rescue operations, drones can also create further risks for irregular migrants. This article contends, therefore, that the presence of drones at EU borders raises critical questions and moral dilemmas regarding the challenges and opportunities they pose for migrants and refugees. It also analyses the transparency and responsibility aspects associated with drones used in border operations and the blurring of civil and military, public and private in their deployment.
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