The Hub for Digital Welfare Research at Södertörn University gathers scholars engaging with the nexus of technological innovation (including artificial intelligence, algorithms, and autonomous systems) and welfare and sharing insights and approaches from media and communication studies, software studies, sociology, political science, and law.
The hub is organized around a core team consisting of Anne Kaun, members of her current projects including PhD students and Postdoc researchers as well as affiliated members. The hub arranges a number of events including a research seminar series, workshops, international talks and conferences.
Projects and Networks
Algorithmic Infrastructures for Human Flourishing in Europe
The project investigates the extensive implementation of automated decision-making (ADM) in the welfare sector across Europe. It is the first project to provide an analysis of automated welfare provision across different European welfare regimes. It examines the implications of algorithms and artificial intelligence for the future of European citizens and societies.
The Digital Welfare State
Hur förändrar sig medborgarnas inställning och tillit till välfärdsinstitutioner när fler och fler beslut delegeras till digitala infrastrukturer? Hur förändras relationen mellan staten och medborgarna i samband med denna omställning? Med utgångspunkt i den pågående utvecklingen och den alltmer omfattande implementeringen av automatiserat beslutsfattande undersöker det föreslagna projektet implikationerna av automatisering för demokratin inom välfärden.
Automating Welfare in the Baltic Sea Region: Consequences of Automated Decision-Making for Democratic Values
This project investigates the implementation of automated decision-making in the welfare sector in the Baltic Sea region being one of the first to link automation to questions of shrinking trust, decline in civic participation and in extension challenges for democracy.
Programmable Politics: Civil Society in the Age of Algorithmic Automation
The project studies how civil society practices are affected by algorithmic automation in terms of possibilities and hindrances for political deliberation on and around digital platforms.
Automated Administration: Governance of ADM in the Public Sector
Combining theoretical, empirical and legal approaches, this four-year multidisciplinary research programme studies and analyses how good public governance can be achieved despite challenges associated with increased automation and AI systems in public decision-making.
Digital Surveillance in Vulnerable Neighborhoods: Stigmatization or Safety?
The issue of safety and security in residential environments is topical, not least in areas that are currently severely affected by crime and unrest in the neighborhoods. The project maps the use of smart sensor and similar forms of algorithmic automation for safety measures in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Affiliated Researchers
Peter Jakobsson
Associate Professor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Stefan Larsson
Associate Professor, Lund University, Sweden
Stine Lomborg
Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Helena Löfgren
PhD, affiliated with the Department of Culture and Education at Södertörn University and analyst at Tillväxtanalys.
Fredrik Stiernstedt
Professor, Södertörn University, Sweden
Former Researchers
Agnes Liminga
Research Assistant, now PhD candidate Umeå University
Ahmad Assad
Research Intern, now PhD candidate Mid Sweden University