The risks of digital governance: Automatisation of crime politics

Abstract

This chapter highlights the evolving landscape of algorithmic governance, shedding light on the pervasive risks and unintended consequences of automated decision-making processes. Despite critical inquiries, much of the discourse within policing-related disciplines remains entrenched in normative frameworks, often endorsing technological interventions for crime prevention, despite their potential for widespread discrimination and social harm. Drawing on a poignant case study—the Dutch Child Tax scandal—the chapter explores how the accountability gap within the state-contracted security market paves the way for unforeseen harm inflicted by algorithm-savvy vendors, thereby shifting the burden of responsibility in legal decision-making processes. The chapter underscores the burgeoning role of tech provisions in shaping law enforcement decisions and the attendant risks of opacity resulting from the emergence of a new computational power structure. By elucidating the transition from predictive policing to corporate surveillance in the administrative domain, the discussion underscores the erosion of traditional law enforcement expertise in favour of data-driven approaches, facilitated by corporate service providers. Ultimately, the chapter underscores the perils of accountability deficits and highlights the dangers posed by nondisclosure agreements wielded by tech elites in perpetuating opaque governance practices.