Discriminatory welfare risk-scoring algorithm

By Thomas Vink, 10th April 2025

In October 2024, La Quadrature du Net (LQDN) along with 14 other organisations began litigation against a risk-scoring algorithm used by the CNAF (Caisse nationale d’allocations familiales), the family branch of France’s social security system. It manages social benefits of more than 12 million people, including housing and minimum-income benefits.

The case builds on pre-litigation research which showed that the algorithm is highly discriminatory. LQDN assesses that socio-economic variables have a preponderant weight in the calculation of the score, structurally disadvantaging people in precarious situations. The algorithm functions like a “double penalty”: it targets those who are most oppressed or marginalised already.

Discriminatory welfare risk-scoring algorithm

Organisation Name

La Quadrature du Net

Country/Jurisdiction

France

Grant Amount

Litigation Support: EUR 30,880

Pre-litigation Support: EUR 20,303

Current Status

Pre-litigation research complete; litigation ongoing

Image credit: Bastian Riccardi on Pexels

Grant type

Litigation Track Support

Grant type

Pre-litigation Research Support

Description

In October 2024, La Quadrature du Net (LQDN) along with 14 other organisations began litigation against a risk-scoring algorithm used by the CNAF (Caisse nationale d’allocations familiales), the family branch of France’s social security system. It manages social benefits of more than 12 million people, including housing and minimum-income benefits.

The case builds on pre-litigation research which showed that the algorithm is highly discriminatory. LQDN assesses that socio-economic variables have a preponderant weight in the calculation of the score, structurally disadvantaging people in precarious situations. The algorithm functions like a “double penalty”: it targets those who are most oppressed or marginalised already.

"The algorithm functions like a “double penalty”: it targets those who are most oppressed or marginalised already"

Strategic Goal

To shed light on the development and harms of such algorithms that are now spreading to other administrations under the justification of public services digitalisation.

Organisation Name

Women’s Link Worldwide