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Paper short abstract:

This paper argues how datafication of social protection schemes may be posing certain threats for poor populations and rather causing exclusion. It is argued that we need to define 'who the leaders are' in order to understand better the motives behind data-driven welfare schemes.

Paper long abstract:

Whilst the use of digital technologies by many governments around the world are transforming the very nature of social protection for poor and vulnerable citizens, such datafication efforts have recently been under heavy scrutiny and criticism by social scientists. Digital technologies such as biometrics and artificial intelligence are commonly used tools for targeting and surveillance in disbursing welfare grants to beneficiaries in many developing countries. However, there are concerns that the increasing datafication of welfare systems excludes poor populations and increases the poverty gap. The key issue to understand is that 'who is in the driving seat?'- the government, international funders or data corporations? Unless we do not address this gap in knowledge and identify 'who the real leaders are', it remains unclear - whether the digital welfare state exploits its poor citizens amidst the constant drive for 'data-driven efficiencies', or does it create opportunities for inclusion? By affording a socio-technical perspective, this study is an endeavour to uncover such controversies and contributes to the information technologies for development discourse through an interpretive case study of a state welfare programme in Pakistan.