UK DWP sued over 'unfair' disability benefits fraud detection algorithm
Occurred: February 2022
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The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) faced legal action to reveal details of an 'unfair' 'General Matching Service' algorithm it used to identify benefit fraud.
The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) demanded the DWP reveal how it uses 'AI, algorithmic technology and other forms of automation' when investigating benefit fraud, specifically details of a data matching algorithm that the department is known to use.
The GMCDP alleged that disabled people were being unfairly targeted, are subject to 'essential' cash cuts and are given little or no information about why they are being investigated.
The legal letter was the second sent by the GMCDP on the subject. The first was issued in December 2021.
Early 2021, Privacy International accused the DWP of using 'excessive surveillance techniques' to investigate possible benefit fraudsters.
System 🤖
General Matching Service algorithm
Operator: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Developer: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Country: UK
Sector: Govt - welfare
Purpose: Detect fraud
Technology: Data matching algorithm; Machine learning
Issue: Accountability; Bias/discrimination; Transparency
Legal, regulatory 👩🏼⚖️
Research, advocacy 🧮
Privacy International (2021). Shedding light on the DWP Part 1 - We read the UK welfare agency’s 995-page guide on conducting surveillance and here are the scariest bits
Privacy International (2021). Shedding light on the DWP Part 2 - A Long Day's Journey Towards Transparency
News, commentary, analysis 🗞️
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice-points/algorithmic-transparency-is-not-a-game/5114772.article
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-bosses-quizzed-by-mps-over-secret-benefit-fraud-algorithm/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3g9n5/how-the-government-spies-on-welfare-claimants
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/dwp-faces-legal-action-reveal-26199571
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/dwp-faces-legal-action-disclose-23062282
Page info
Type: Incident
Published: February 2022
Last updated: March 2024