![“The lack of technology and communication options available to [asylum seekers] in detention was associated with emotional distress,” Leung said. Photographer: Joanne Saad. Reproduced with permission from U: magazine.](https://d321cxw853vaeo.cloudfront.net/article/images/740x500/dimg/m_img_22413.jpg)
“The lack of technology and communication options available to [asylum seekers] in detention was associated with emotional distress,” Leung said. Photographer: Joanne Saad. Reproduced with permission from U: magazine.
![“The lack of technology and communication options available to [asylum seekers] in detention was associated with emotional distress,” Leung said. Photographer: Joanne Saad. Reproduced with permission from U: magazine.](https://d321cxw853vaeo.cloudfront.net/article/images/125x94/dimg/m_img_22413.jpg)
Leung said stringent conditions were placed on the use of Internet when it was introduced the into detention centres, which led the asylum seekers to depend more on mobile phones. This trend, however, has become increasingly problematic as the pace of technological advances quickly outdates regulations.
The detainees, for example, are forbidden to use mobile phones with cameras or recording devices attached.
“They’re having to use very old model phones and it’s getting increasingly harder to supply them with those, because as the phones actually upgrade and become more sophisticated [the rules don’t change],” Leung said.
Several large mobile phone providers confirmed only a hand full of devices are available without camera technology. Optus, for example, does not sell any.
DIAC said it is aware of concerns about the speed of the Internet and blocked websites raised by detainees, and that it is working with residents and services provider, Serco, to resolve the issues.
“Internet filters are in place at all detention facilities to block access to pornographic and offensive websites,” a DIAC spokesperson told Computerworld. “Occasionally, though, these filters inadvertently block non-offensive foreign language websites.”
The department also said all Villawood residents have their own password-protected hard drive on which they can store personal data and that the mobile phone camera restriction is to protect the privacy of residents.
An asylum seeker, addressed as ‘Mr R’ in the UTS study, accused the policies of trying to keep asylum seekers in the dark.
“So there’s this control in detention centres that people are kept in the dark and they are not allowed any technology to use or know what is happening. Because we were curious about what was happening outside Australia, what people think of us...”
The Villawood detainee who spoke with Computerworld said detainees will keep up the fight for access to better Internet and communications technology.
Serco Australia did not return requests for information.
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