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. 2022;1(3):26.
doi: 10.1007/s44206-022-00029-9. Epub 2022 Nov 19.

Ensuring Privacy and Confidentiality in Social Work Through Intentional Omissions of Information in Client Information Systems: a Qualitative Study of Available and Non-available Data

Diana Schneider  1
Affiliations

Ensuring Privacy and Confidentiality in Social Work Through Intentional Omissions of Information in Client Information Systems: a Qualitative Study of Available and Non-available Data

Diana Schneider. Digit Soc. 2022.

Abstract

There is intensive debate about the use of AI-based systems in social work, although the degree of digitalization is low in many jurisdictions. In this article, the findings of research about the process of case recording in client information systems for social work are presented. Between January and June 2020, 20 guideline-based interviews were conducted with experts working for funding agencies or service providers. A significant finding was that there are intentional omissions of information within digital client records, despite being relevant for further case processing. This finding and the reasons for omission are highly relevant to the current debate on AI, because it extends consideration beyond the ethics of design to include the ethics of usage.

Keywords: Bias; Client information systems; Digital case records; Intended omissions of information; Privacy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe author has no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. This article was written as part of the MAEWIN project at the FH Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. In the meantime, I work at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI.

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