Slingenberg 385 the situation as not having ‘anything to do with the reception of asylum seekers’. Instead, it has become ‘a struggle for survival’ (Commissioner for Human Rights, 2019). Also Human Rights Watch has criticized the poor living conditions of asylum seekers on the Greek islands for years (e.g. Human Rights Watch, 2018, 2021). Since asylum seekers on the islands are, with limited exceptions, not allowed to leave the islands and transfer to the Greek main land (Asylum Information Database, 2024), asylum seekers have had to live in these dire conditions for months or even years. On 8 and 9 September 2020, a number of fires entirely destroyed the Moria reception centre on the island of Lesvos. This, finally, triggered a concrete response by the European Commission. With the famous statement of ‘no more Moria’s’ by commissioner Ylva Johansson, the Commission promised a fresh start and an end to unacceptable living conditions such as in the (former) Moria camp (European Commission, 2020). To this end, in addition to financing the improvement of the current temporary camp on Lesvos, the Commission has signed grant agreements for the construction of new reception centres in Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros (European Commission, 2021). In 2021, three new ‘multi-purpose reception and identification centres’ were constructed (on Samos, Kos and Leros). In Greece they are called ‘Closed Controlled Access Centres’ (CCACs). These centres are completely financed by the EU and designed in collaboration between the Commission, EU agencies and the Greek government. According to the Commission, these centres ensure adequate living conditions and dignified reception conditions (European Commission, 2022). In November 2022, the existing facilities in Lesvos and Chios were converted into CCACs, while in both the islands, the construction of two new EU funded centres has been planned (Asylum Information Database, 2024). These centres are the only places where asylum seekers can receive basic assistance; there is hardly any alternative accommodation available on the islands (Refugee Support Aegean and PRO ASYL, 2023). Also Aida reports that the few alternative reception centres that existed on the islands have ‘gradually given way to the new Closed-Controlled island facilities in 2021’ (Asylum Information Database, 2023: 166). The CCACs on Samos consist of prefabricated containers of 25 m2 and a capacity of four people each, with air-conditioning, heating and Wi-Fi access. The centre has playgrounds, sports courts, restaurants, shared kitchens and sanitary facilities and a computer room. Hence, the living conditions are clearly improved as compared to the previous makeshift camps. However, the camp is surrounded by a double security fence equipped with turnstiles, magnetic gates and X-ray machines and guarded by 50 uniformed personnel 24 h a day. It uses a two-factor access control system (identity and fingerprint) and a closed surveillance system that uses “smart” software to give notifications and images to the Control Centre in Athens. This is implemented by two surveillance systems: Hyperion and Centaur. Hyperion monitors movement in and out of the camps and Centaur deploys behavioural analysis algorithms and transmits CCTV and drone footage to the Control Centre. In September 2022, two investigative networks (BIRN and Solomon) revealed that these systems were implemented without basic data protection safeguards required under EU law (BalkanInsight, 2022), which led to critical questions submitted by some members of the European Parliament