EIJC17 & Dataharvest

The Migration Machine – does Europe care? On the night of April 9, 2016, around 500 adults and children drowned in the Mediterranean, the largest loss of life that year. Seven months later no official body, national or multinational, had held anyone to account for the deaths or even opened an inquiry into the shipwreck. A Reuters investigation identified many of the dead, the owners of the ship, showed how the brokers got in contact with the migrants on social media and proved it possible to map the brokers’ network and identify them. The investigation demonstrates the gaps in international law enforcement that make it easy for human smugglers to pursue their deadly trade in the Mediterranean. But it also shows what could be done if authorities chose to make a priority of investigating migrant deaths. Stephen Grey of Reuters explains the methods the team used for “The Migration Machine”. (followed by networking session on how to investigate migration). http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/migration/#story/60