41 pages • 1 hour read
Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor
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Book Brief
260
Book • Nonfiction
2010s
2018
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Automating Inequality, Virginia Eubanks examines how automated systems in U.S. public assistance programs perpetuate longstanding punitive approaches to managing poverty. Through case studies of welfare eligibility in Indiana, coordinated housing in Los Angeles, and child abuse risk modeling in Pennsylvania, Eubanks reveals the discriminatory impacts of algorithmic decision-making on marginalized communities, arguing that these technologies often exacerbate inequality rather than mitigate it. Note: The book discusses systemic racial profiling, segregation, and discrimination.
Informative
Challenging
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
3,097 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
In Automating Inequality, Virginia Eubanks delivers a compelling critique of how data-driven technologies entrench social inequities. Many reviewers praise her thorough research and engaging writing style. However, some argue she overlooks potential benefits of technology in policy reform. Overall, the book is regarded as a crucial examination of digital justice.
Who Should Read Automating Inequality?
Readers who are interested in the intersection of technology, social justice, and public policy would find Automating Inequality by Virginia Eubanks compelling. Fans of Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil or The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander will appreciate Eubanks' exploration of how automated systems exacerbate inequality.
3,097 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Sophie Stipes
Sophie Stipes
A young girl with cerebral palsy who faced challenges when her family lost Medicaid benefits due to an automated eligibility system, highlighting issues with bureaucratic errors and access to healthcare.
Gary Boatwright
Gary Boatwright
A man in Los Angeles who experienced homelessness after losing his job, he navigates the complexities of automated systems meant to assist the unhoused, encountering obstacles due to rigid criteria and personal decisions.
Angel Shepherd & Patrick Gryzb
Angel Shepherd & Patrick Gryzb
A couple in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, whose story exemplifies how automated welfare systems can misinterpret poverty conditions as neglect, affecting the quality of assistance they receive for their family.
260
Book • Nonfiction
2010s
2018
Adult
18+ years
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