41 pages • 1 hour read
Virginia EubanksAutomating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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.