digital-poorhouse

This chapter traces the historical evolution of poverty management in America from the 19th-century poorhouse system to modern automated decision-making systems. It highlights the poorhouse as a punitive institution designed to deter aid-seeking through harsh conditions and moralistic judgments, while also exposing its failures, abuses, and the enduring legacy of systemic inequality embedded in contemporary digital welfare systems. The chapter argues that despite technological advances, current poverty management continues to criminalize and control the poor, reflecting longstanding societal debates about deservingness and care.

This chapter explores the persistent cultural denial of poverty in the United States and how digital technologies, rather than disrupting old systems, reinforce historical patterns of social exclusion and control. It illustrates how automated systems in Indiana and Los Angeles serve as modern 'digital poorhouses,' diverting poor people from public resources, classifying and criminalizing them, and perpetuating a moral narrative that justifies inequality. The chapter situates these technological tools within a long history of institutional mechanisms designed to regulate and marginalize the poor.

This conclusion chapter of Automating Inequality reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a technological, warfare, and human rights revolution, emphasizing the failure to achieve ethical progress alongside technological advances. It recounts the challenges and shortcomings of the Poor People's Campaign after King's assassination, highlighting systemic opposition and internal divisions. The chapter argues that modern technological systems automate discrimination and deepen inequality but asserts that dismantling the 'digital poorhouse' requires cultural, political, and ethical transformation, particularly through reshaping narratives about poverty and building empathy-driven coalitions among poor and working-class people.

This chapter critiques the emergence of the 'digital poorhouse,' a punitive and technologically driven system that undermines social safety nets and perpetuates poverty, especially among marginalized groups. It revisits the Poor People's Campaign's 50-year-old demands for rights such as adequate education and economic security, advocating for solutions like universal basic income (UBI) while emphasizing the need for ethical design principles in technology to support rather than harm the poor. The chapter also highlights the importance of integrating social justice movements to address economic violence perpetuated by digital surveillance and administrative systems.

This chapter is the acknowledgments section of 'Automating Inequality,' where the author expresses deep gratitude to the individuals who shared their vulnerable experiences, as well as to colleagues, editors, mentors, and supporters who contributed to the creation and refinement of the book. The author highlights the risks faced by those whose stories are told, the collaborative nature of the writing process, and the personal and institutional support that made the work possible.

Chapter 1, 'From Poorhouse to Database,' compiles an extensive bibliography and archival references tracing the historical evolution of welfare systems from 19th-century poorhouses to modern computerized welfare administration. It highlights the transformation of social welfare practices, the racialization and criminalization of poverty, and the increasing reliance on data and technology in managing public assistance. The chapter serves as a foundational resource base for understanding how welfare policies and perceptions have been shaped over time, particularly in New York State.

This chapter titled '5. Holland, 2015.' contains no substantive narrative or analysis but instead presents an extensive index of terms related to social welfare, automated decision-making, civil rights, and poverty. The index reflects the broad thematic scope of 'Automating Inequality,' highlighting key topics such as digital poorhouses, child welfare, housing, discrimination, and data-driven governance. The chapter serves as a reference tool rather than a traditional chapter with events or arguments.

This chapter presents a collection of endorsements highlighting the critical examination of how automated systems and digital technologies perpetuate and exacerbate social and economic inequalities, particularly affecting marginalized communities. The endorsements emphasize the book's exploration of the surveillance state, the punitive nature of digital welfare systems, and the urgent need to understand and resist these technological forces to promote justice and equity.