Justin Lahey

Research Interests

I am a mature Graduate student whose research interests and academic passion are mainly focused on the social implications of technology. More specifically, my PhD dissertation research will address demographic bias in the use of facial recognition technology at the border by conducting a qualitative framework analysis focused on the lived experiences of marginalized groups, aiming to obtain a more complete understanding of bias and improve the policies and standards governing the use of FRT.

I completed my Masters of Arts (Sociology) in 1999. My thesis was entitled “The Uruguayan Perspective of Mercosur” (English translation of the original French title) and was a socio-economic analysis of the impact of Free-Trade in Latin America on the smallest participating country of the original agreement, Uruguay.

Beyond my return to academia in 2022, I am also a proud and dedicated federal public servant with over 20 years of experience in two agencies. I currently work at the Canada Border Services Agency as a senior policy, planning and performance analyst in Travellers Transformation, which focuses on border transformation and modernization. Prior to this, I worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in three key areas: stakeholder consultations and engagement, regulatory affairs, and cabinet affairs.

Besides work and school, I spend my spare time playing tennis, readings books and writing, watching the Blue Jays, and camping.

Presentations

Lahey, J. (2026). Borders and Mobility: Examining the Social Implication of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) as a Border Solution [Presentation]. Event: Queen’s-BSIA International Migration & Mobility Graduate Symposium 2026 (QBIMMGS). Event Theme: Borders and (Un)Bordering – Analyzing Migration and (Im)Mobility in an Era of Polycrisis, March, 2026. Queen’s University, Kingston, ON.

Lahey, J. (2026). Digital Borders: Tech & Migration [Panelist]. Event Theme: Technology & Migration Panel, February, 2026. Amnesty International and UNICEF at University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.

Lahey, J. (2026). Borders and Mobility: Examining Social Implications of Border Technology. [Panel Presentation]. Event Theme: Migration and Technology Panel. Migration, Mobilities, and Social Politics (MMSP) Research Cluster, January, 2026. Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo, ON.

Lahey, J. (1999). Le sociologue en tant que médiateur social (The Sociologist as Social Mediator) [Presentation]. Conference theme: Today’s Society, Tomorrow’s Sociology. Colloque interuniversitaire de sociologie 99, March, 1999. Université Laval, Québec, QC.