Emergence of digital welfare state

The increasing use of (big) data and algorithms has led to the emergence of ‘digital welfare states’ around the world. Digital welfare states can be defined as systems of social protection and support which are driven by digital technologies that are used to automate, predict, identify, surveil and intervene. The territory of digital welfare states is rapidly expanding to domains such as youth care, social care and welfare that deal with the most vulnerable citizens in our society.

Whether the emergence of a digital welfare state is a blessing or a curse is a matter of ongoing debate. Proponents argue that data-driven technologies will lead to greater efficiency, prevention of fraud and more personalized service provision. Moreover, the expectation is that data-technologies can remedy blind spots in human judgments of street-level bureaucrats. Critics however express increasing concerns about the unintended impact of data-technologies. They warn against citizen surveillance, discriminatory effects of algorithms and the violation of human rights. Moreover, they fear the displacement of human judgements in the allocation of support and the increasing role of Big Tech in designing, constructing, and even operating significant parts of the digital welfare state.

Given this ongoing debate, there is a great need for in-depth and on the ground research to determine if, when, why and how data technologies are needed in our welfare states and how they affect – and affected by – current regimes. The following research themes are key in the research line on digital welfare states:

1. Inequalities of datafication. Where and how are inequalities emerging in digital welfare states with regards to access, allocation and quality of support? How do citizens and street-level bureaucrats experience these inequalities? What are their stories and lived realities? On the basis of this research theme a Data Story Bank will be set up that can be used to identify recurring problems and points of improvements.
2. The role of public-private partnerships in the design, construction and operation of the digital welfare state. This research theme sheds light on how PPP’s reshape notions of responsibility and accountability in data-design and management, and what the effects are on the current ‘Rule of Law’. 
3. The (re) valuation of good work and decision-making by ‘screen-level’ bureaucrats. How is automated decision-making incorporated into the work of street-level bureaucrats who increasingly become screen-level bureaucrats? What kind of (new) valuation practices arise due to the use of new data technologies? How are (ir)responsible data practices measured and valued?
4. The design and construction of responsible data-practices together with citizens and street-level bureaucrats. This theme provides insights into what kind of reflexive and corrective mechanisms are needed to foster responsible data practices on the ground.

Links

• https://www.centre-for-bold-cities.nl/news/new-phd-at-centre-for-bold-cities