Automating Inequality
Book by Virginia Eubanks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor is a book by Virginia Eubanks.
| |
| Author | Virginia Eubanks |
|---|---|
| Subject | technology and poverty |
| Published | 2018 |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press |
| Awards | Stephan Russo Book Prize (shortlist) |
| ISBN | 978-1-250-07431-7 |
Background
The book focuses on how automation negatively impacts the poor.[1] In the United States during the 19th century, poor people were often sent to poorhouses.[2] Eubanks draws a connection from the poorhouses of the 19th century to how we control and contain poor people using technology in the 21st century.[3] Eubanks is an associate professor of political science at State University of New York.[4]
The book discusses how housing in Los Angeles has been automated.[5] The book discusses Mitch Daniels's attempt to privatize and automate welfare in Indiana.[6] The attempt led to a 54% increase in the denial of benefits from the previous three years.[7] In Pittsburgh, there was an attempt to use predictive risk modeling to identify at-risk children.[8] Many automated processes are intended to maximize profit.[9] The last chapter goes over ways that these oppressive systems can be dismantled.[10]
Reception
LibraryJournal praised the book for covering academic material in a way that is easy to read.[11] The book was shortlisted for the Stephan Russo Book Prize.[12] The Financial Times compared and contasted the book with Algorithms of Oppression.[13]