KMAN Publication Incorporation Interdisciplinary Studies in Society, Law, and Politics 3060-5687 5 Serial Number 16 2026 01 01 The Digitalization of Welfare and Legal Exclusion: Algorithms, Automation, and Administrative Justice The Digitalization of Welfare and Legal Exclusion: Algorithms, Automation, and Administrative Justice 1 12 10.61838/kman.isslp.460 EN Journal Article 2025 08 14 <p>This article examines how the digitalization of welfare systems contributes to legal exclusion and reconfigures the principles of administrative justice in contemporary governance. A scientific narrative review method was employed, using a descriptive analysis approach to synthesize interdisciplinary research published between 2021 and 2024. Sources were drawn from legal studies, public policy, and technology-related fields. The review includes case examples from the UK, Netherlands, US, and Nordic countries, with a focus on the operational mechanisms of automated welfare systems and their legal implications. The review reveals that digital welfare systems commonly utilize eligibility algorithms, risk assessment AI, and biometric verification technologies. While these tools promise efficiency, they also create new vulnerabilities for legal exclusion, especially among marginalized populations. Challenges to administrative justice include the erosion of procedural fairness, opacity in algorithmic decisions, diminished human discretion, and limited access to remedies. Existing legal protections and oversight mechanisms remain underdeveloped in many jurisdictions, though promising innovations such as algorithmic audits and rights to explanation are emerging. Digitalization has reshaped welfare governance in ways that both enhance and threaten access to social rights. Without strong safeguards, automation can undermine administrative justice and disproportionately harm vulnerable groups. A balanced approach is needed—one that integrates technological advancement with legal accountability, user-centered design, and inclusive governance.</p> https://journalisslp.com/index.php/isslp/article/download/460/901