Lieke Oldenhof, Margot Kersing, and Liesbet van Zoonen have published a new article, “Sphere transgressions in the Dutch digital welfare state: causing harm to citizens when legal rules, ethical norms and quality procedures are lacking,” in Information, Communication & Society.
This article examines how digitalisation in the Dutch welfare state impacts citizens, particularly when boundaries between legal frameworks, ethical guidelines, and procedural standards are blurred. The authors highlight how the absence of clear safeguards in these overlapping spheres can result in harm, with significant implications for citizens and policymakers.
Abstract
The Dutch welfare state is increasingly transitioning to digital tools for policy-making and execution. While these innovations are often seen as efficient solutions, they can cause harm when they lack robust legal, ethical, and procedural boundaries. This article explores how such “sphere transgressions” occur in the digital welfare state, analysing their consequences for citizens. Using a qualitative research approach, the authors show that when legal, ethical, and procedural safeguards are insufficient, citizens are left vulnerable to unintended harms caused by the use of data-driven technologies.
The study highlights the importance of establishing strong regulatory frameworks to ensure the responsible use of digital tools in public administration and calls for more reflection on the ethical and societal implications of these technologies.
The article is available online and can be accessed through the link below.
Reference
Oldenhof, L., Kersing, M., & van Zoonen, L. (2024). Sphere transgressions in the Dutch digital welfare state: causing harm to citizens when legal rules, ethical norms and quality procedures are lacking. Information, Communication & Society, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/1369118X.2024.2358163.