Datafication and the Welfare State

Dencik, Lina; Kaun, Anne

doi:10.1525/gp.2020.12912

Cited by 66 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…While literature on the datafication of the welfare state in the U.K. and beyond has, to date, focused on concerns such as transparency, bias and lack of redress in algorithmic decision making, and the danger of digitally entrenching inequality [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], the case of the Alexafication of ASC highlights overlapping but slightly differing issues. These include data governance and privacy, the digital divide, and inequalities of access, as well as questions about adherence to technical quality and reliability standards such as those required by law for telecare equipment—concerns that have also been discussed by Hamblin in the broader context of the possibilities and challenges presented by a new generation of digital technology-enabled care services against the backdrop of the upcoming digital switchover [ 10 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, despite the rapidly growing use of virtual assistants in the delivery of health and social care, much social scientific work on the growing application of artificial intelligence (AI) to public services has focused on algorithmic decision-making systems [ 4 ], datafication [ 5 ], a “new public analytics” paradigm [ 6 ], and an emerging “digital welfare state” in which governments are increasingly privatising and automating welfare management [ 7 ]. Relatively few studies have examined the use of these technologies in the delivery of adult social care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

Wright

2021

IJERPH

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Voice controlled virtual assistants, delivered via consumer devices such as smart speakers and tablets, are being trialled by local authorities across England as a convenient and low-cost supplement or potential alternative to “traditional” telecare. Few papers have explored this increasingly widespread phenomenon, despite its growing importance. This article looks at choices by some local authorities to trial Alexa, within the context of the ongoing care crisis in England, with councils facing depleted funds, a lack of expert guidance on care technologies, and an increasingly complex and fragmented care technology marketplace. It draws on interviews with managers from eight English local authorities involved in the commissioning and trialling of technologies for adult social care to examine how and why virtual assistants are being implemented, and what implications their use might hold for care. Scaling up the application of such technologies could shift the role of local authorities towards one of an app developer and data broker, while generating considerable risks of reliance on the precarious technological infrastructure of global corporations that may have little interest in or sensitivity towards local care concerns. The findings suggest an urgent need for a national social care technology strategy and increased support for local authorities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

Wright

2021

IJERPH

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“…The digital divide has been amply studied in the last two decades (Norris 2001;Selwyn 2004;Mossberger et al 2008;Livingstone & Helsper 2007). Communication science literature has consistently demonstrated the complexity and dynamic character of this phenomenon and the need to distinguish different types of digital divide that encompass not only the lack of access but also the role played by skills (Norris 2001;Hargittai 2002;Van Dijk & Hacker 2003;Epstein et al 2011;Helsper 2017).…”

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Connected but Still Excluded? Digital Exclusion beyond Internet Access

Ranchordás¹

2020

SSRN Journal

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Digital government has digitized numerous public services, automated decision-making, and improved the openness of the public administration. Nevertheless, for senior citizens, undeserved communities, individuals with low literacy and limited digital skills, the shift to governmental portals, online payments, and smartphone applications are considerable obstacles in their daily interactions with public authorities. This chapter argues that digital inequality denies vulnerable citizens their rights twice: first, their ethnicity and socioeconomic status may be conducive to a 'negative' ranking or score (e.g., higher risk of welfare fraud); and second, they are also excluded because they do not have adequate access to technology, are not well informed, and do not have the time and skills required to interact with digital government. This chapter explores one of the paradoxes of the digital society: connected citizens in developed countries are also affected by the digital divide and are increasingly being excluded by the generalized digitalization of public services. Drawing on a review of interdisciplinary literature, this chapter contributes to the legal literature with an account of the underlying causes of digital exclusion and a discussion of its most relevant legal implications through the lenses of fundamental rights (e.g., due process, equal treatment) and the principles of good administration. This chapter reflects on potential solutions for more inclusive digital government policies.

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“…This is problematic because when public servants make decisions based on these non-transparent algorithms, this comes at the very real risk of making (unintentional) biased decisions which could erode public trust in government (Whitakker et al, 2018). In short, for automated decision-making explainability and accessibility are prominent challenges when tasks are delegated to complex algorithmic systems (Ananny, 2016;Sandvig et al, 2016;Giest, 2019;Dencik & Kaun, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction to special issue algorithmic transparency in government: Towards a multi-level perspective

Giest

Grimmelikhuijsen

2020

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Datafication and the Welfare State

Abstract: This is the accepted version of a paper published in . This paper has been peer-reviewed but does not include the final publisher proof-corrections or journal pagination.

Cited by 66 publications

References 30 publications

The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

Connected but Still Excluded? Digital Exclusion beyond Internet Access

Introduction to special issue algorithmic transparency in government: Towards a multi-level perspective

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