Fact Sheet

Family Surveillance by Algorithm

The Rapidly Spreading Tools Few Have Heard Of

Document Date: September 29, 2021
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By Anjana Samant, Aaron Horowitz, Kath Xu, and Sophie Beiers

Our country’s latest reckoning with structural racism has involved critical reflection on the role of the criminal justice system, education policy, and housing practices in perpetuating racial inequity. But another area long overdue for collective reexamination is the child welfare system and the algorithms working behind the scenes. That’s why the ACLU has conducted a nationwide survey to learn more about these tools.