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Department of Sociology, Politics and International Relations
  1. School of Society and Environment – Department of Sociology, Politics and International Relations
  2. Research
  3. Digital Welfare Borders (DIGIWEB)

DIGIWEB

The effects of Artificial Intelligence in Migrants’ Access to Welfare

DIGIWEB: Studying the effects of Artificial Intelligence in Migrants’ Access to Welfare

DIGIWEB is a major interdisciplinary research project examining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping welfare systems and transforming how states govern migration. DIGIWEB focuses on the effects for migrants and non-nationals as governments increasingly rely on different AI tools and compares these processes across the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

Digiweb is funded by a European Research Council Starting Grant between 2026 and 2031.

3 Areas of focus

  1. DIGIWEB looks at the welfare-AI technologies currently being designed, tested and deployed particularly in predictive analytics and automated decision making. 
  2. DIGIWEB explores how they are implemented by case workers and others at the ‘frontline’ and how these technologies make a difference to how they do their jobs. 
  3. DIGIWEB examines the experiences of those who are subject to these technologies and how they make a difference to their daily lives.

Team and Collaborators  

Rachel Humphris (she/her) - Principal Investigator

 Rachel is leading the DIGIWEB project

Ollie Nixon (he/him) PhD Student

 Ollie is exploring how diverse residents experience welfare-AI in the UK.

Lewis Fussey (he/him), PhD Student

 Lewis is investigating how frontline workers in the UK implement welfare-AI and how it shifts their daily routines.

Nika Mahnič (they/them) - Postdoctoral Researcher

 Nika is mapping welfare-AI technologies and interoperability across the Netherland, Sweden and the UK.
(TBC) Data Scientist leading on algorithmic experiments and auditing
(TBC) Ethnographer leading on research in The Netherlands
(TBC) Ethnographer leading on research in Sweden

Contact us

To contact the DIGIWEB team, send us an email, or follow us on LinkedIn for project updates.

About DIGIWEB

By bringing together data science and social science, DIGIWEB investigates how welfare and AI systems operate, how they affect those implementing these systems on the ground, and the experiences of diverse residents. It will also explore what these developments mean for the future of welfare and migration governance in Europe and beyond.

DIGIWEB addresses three central questions:

  • (How) Do AI systems shape welfare decisions for non-nationals?
  • (How) Do these systems represent a fundamental shift in what counts as knowledge in public services?
  • What are the wider international implications of AI-driven welfare systems?

DIGIWEB is the first major interdisciplinary study to systematically and comparatively analyse how AI connects welfare governance with migration management.

DIGIWEB Outcomes

DIGIWEB will produce new knowledge on:

  • The functioning and impact of welfare-AI systems
  • The role of frontline workers in AI-driven decision-making
  • Migrants’ experiences and responses
  • The transformation of welfare states in the digital era

The project will also develop practical insights for policymakers and practitioners to support more responsible and equitable uses of AI.

Get in touch

This project is ongoing, and if you have any questions or would like to collaborate, please send us an email, or follow us on LinkedIn for project updates.

 

 

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