South Africa: Governments Shouldn't Rely On AI to Decide Who Gets a Social Grant - Inside a South African Court Case

In 2020, the South African government implemented an automated digital vetting system to determine eligibility for the Social Relief of Distress grant. The program was designed to streamline the identification of qualified recipients for state social assistance.

Following a legal challenge, the South African High Court ruled that the reliance on this automated system was unconstitutional. The court's decision highlights significant concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making in the administration of essential public social services.