Etnografia e Ricerca Qualitativa
2019, Pages 73-100

Social smugglers. How social media are changing migrant smuggling [Social smugglers: Come i social network stanno modificando il traffico di migranti] (Article)

Di Nicola A. , Martini E. , Baratto G.
  • a Crime-Department, Faculty of Law, Institute of Safety and Security Sciences, School of International Studies, University of Trento, Via Verdi, 53, Trento, 38122, Italy
  • b Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, Via Verdi, 26, Trento, 38122, Italy
  • c Crime-Department, Faculty of Law, Institute of Safety and Security Sciences, School of International Studies, University of Trento, Via Verdi, 53, Trento, 38122, Italy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the role of social media in migrant smuggling. It aims at highlighting if and how social media and digital technologies are modifying: a) the characteristics of criminal groups dedicated to migrant smuggling, i.e. the methods of criminal association, the structure of criminal groups, and the forms of collaboration among them; b) the smuggling of migrants as organized criminal activity; c) the social networks of migrants using the services provided by the smugglers. Research results suggest that social media are modifying, at least partially, both the characteristics of the criminal organizations involved in migrant smuggling, and the organization of criminal activities. Furthermore, social media are facilitating the migratory processes and reducing related costs and risks by connecting potential migrants, both among themselves and with those already in the destination countries. © 2019 Societa Editrice il Mulino. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Social media Criminal organizations Human smugglers international migration

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068504276&doi=10.3240%2f93663&partnerID=40&md5=3ffcc6151bf6db80f2cb9d55f435df2d
DOI: 10.3240/93663
ISSN: 19733194
Original Language: Italian