How surveillance shapes migrant information practices and social integration in Turkey

Abstract

This study examines the impact of digital surveillance on the information practices and social integration processes of migrants residing in Turkey. Drawing on in-depth qualitative interviews with 16 participants, the research reveals how surveillance infrastructures such as biometric registration systems and digital government platforms mediate migrants’ access to essential information and services. Thematic analysis indicates that perceived surveillance fosters self-censorship and constrained information-sharing, with behaviors and motivations varying significantly based on migrants’ national origins and social precarity. These dynamics significantly inhibit migrants’ engagement with social networks and public institutions. The study contributes to the literature on information behavior and surveillance studies by conceptualizing surveillance as a structuring force within migrants’ informational environments.