The violence of algorithmic systems in social policy in Colombia: (Re) localising the digital welfare state in the postcolonial context

This chapter analyzes the case of the systems used by the Colombian State to define who is legible for social rights. The chapter argues that these systems are not simply a product of technological determinism, but rather they reflect the historical tendencies of structural violence in Colombia. While global research on digital technology in social security often spotlights nations in the Global North, this chapter directs attention to the postcolonial context. The chapter traces the history of these systems from the Sisben system, which was used to classify communities in the 1990s, to the Household Social Registry, which is currently used to select beneficiaries for social programs. The chapter argues that these systems have all been used to depoliticize the claims of marginalized communities and to render their social rights as a product of benevolence or good luck. The chapter concludes by arguing that the Colombian case shows that the datification of social programs is not simply a product of a surveillance state or the mindless implementation of digital technologies, but rather it is a complex phenomenon that reflects the historical and political context of each country. By offering a localized perspective, this chapter seeks to pluralize the discourse and counter universalist claims, ultimately advocating for localized actions of resistance against systemic violence.