In praise of Luddites: Technology, automation, and the future of care No.3

Welcome to the Digital Care Insights newsletter. Each fortnight we will be sharing insights on key policy and tech developments on digitisation and the use of data and tech in adult social care.

Edited by our Project lead, Katie Thorn, we hope Digital Care Insights will spark discussion and action.

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It may surprise you to learn that I consider myself a Luddite. Not because I reject technology, but because I believe we need to approach it with caution and thoughtfulness, especially in social care. As Project Lead at the Digital Care Hub, I see the incredible potential that digital solutions offer, but I also see the risks when technology is introduced without careful consideration of the people it is meant to serve.?

The term 'Luddite' often conjures images of 19th-century textile workers smashing machines, resisting the technological revolution that threatened their way of life. But today, being a Luddite isn’t about rejecting technology, it’s about questioning whether it is being used in ways that genuinely benefit people. In social care, where relationships and trust are at the core of what we do, this is more important than ever.?

The fear of job displacement, real or exaggerated??

AI-powered scheduling, robotic process automation, and even digital companions are changing the way care is delivered. While these innovations can support staff and free up time for meaningful interactions, they also bring legitimate concerns. Automation may replace skilled workers, particularly in administrative and support roles, and we risk creating a system that values efficiency over humanity.?

If we don’t actively invest in reskilling and upskilling our workforce, we risk leaving people behind. Technology should be used to complement human care, not to replace it. Without careful implementation, automation could strip social care of the personal touch that makes it effective and compassionate.?

Who really benefits from AI in care??

The care sector is increasingly influenced by tech developers and policymakers who champion digital transformation. But are the people at the frontline, care workers and those drawing on care, genuinely benefiting? Technology must be co-designed with the people who will use it, rather than imposed in a way that adds complexity and frustration.?

Care providers are also at risk of becoming overly dependent on large tech companies, with little control over their own data and decision-making. If we don’t set clear expectations for ethical and transparent use of technology, we could find ourselves locked into systems that don’t truly serve the needs of care providers or the people they support.?

The risks of ‘black box’ decision-making?

One of the biggest challenges with AI and automation is their lack of transparency. If algorithms are being used to allocate resources, schedule visits, or assess care needs, we must ensure fairness and accountability. Who is responsible if an AI-driven decision negatively impacts a person’s care? If we cannot answer this question, we need to pause and rethink our approach.?

A widening digital divide in care?

Technology has the potential to make care more efficient and accessible, but only if it is implemented fairly. Many care providers struggle with the cost of digital transformation, while individuals receiving care may not have access to digital tools or skills to use them effectively. Without careful planning, we risk creating a two-tier system where only well-funded organisations can fully embrace digital solutions, leaving others behind.?

The wider impact of technology on social care?

Beyond job displacement and transparency concerns, technology in social care presents a range of other risks and opportunities:?

• Loss of skilled labour – Will automation devalue the expertise of care workers, turning complex human interactions into mechanised processes??
• Concentration of power – Are a few dominant tech companies shaping the future of social care, limiting competition and choice??
• Surveillance and privacy – How do we balance digital monitoring for safety with respecting the dignity and autonomy of individuals receiving care??
• Mental health implications – Are we fully considering how automation and digital interactions impact the emotional well-being of both care workers and those they support??
• Environmental consequences – The production and maintenance of digital systems require significant energy and resources, how do we ensure sustainability??
• Cultural erosion – Could an over-reliance on technology in care strip away the deeply personal, relational aspects that define quality support??
• Ethical AI – Are we embedding the right ethical standards into care technology to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and accountability??

Ethics in AI: ensuring responsible use in care?

At Digital Care Hub, we are actively working to ensure that AI is implemented responsibly in social care. Our collaboration with the Institute of Ethics in AI and Casson Consulting, through the Oxford Project on the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Social Care, is a key part of this effort. This work is focused on developing ethical frameworks that prioritise transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI-driven care solutions.?

If we are to embrace AI in social care, we must ensure that the technology is being developed and deployed with care providers, policymakers, and people receiving care at the centre of decision-making. Ethical AI must not be an afterthought, it should be embedded into every stage of design and implementation.?

You can learn more about our work on this at Digital Care Hub.?

Why a Luddite approach may be the right one?

The Luddites weren’t against technology itself, they were against its unchecked consequences. That’s exactly the approach we need in social care today. We must ensure that technology is implemented thoughtfully, ethically, and inclusively. Rather than blindly embracing every new innovation, we need to ask:?

• Does this technology genuinely improve care outcomes??

• Is it designed with the people who will use it in mind? And have they been involved in its design??

• Are we ensuring that it doesn’t widen existing inequalities??

At its core, social care is about people, relationships, trust, and dignity. Technology should enhance these values, not undermine them. Rather than resisting innovation, we must shape it in a way that supports the people who need it most.?

The future of care is ours to shape?

We don’t have to choose between embracing technology and protecting the values that make care effective and humane. We can do both, but only if we take a considered, critical approach to digital transformation. By adopting a modern Luddite mindset, one that is thoughtful, questioning, and people-centered, we can ensure that innovation in care is ethical, inclusive, and, above all, human.?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. How is technology impacting care in your organisation? Are we taking the right approach? Let’s keep the conversation going.

NEWS UPDATES?

Government publishes Telecare National Action Plan for digital switchover?

The Government’s new Telecare National Action Plan sets out the steps needed to protect telecare users as the UK transitions from analogue to digital phone lines by 2027. It recognises the critical importance of ensuring that telecare services remain safe and effective throughout the switchover. Digital Care Hub will be helping to raise awareness of the issues amongst care providers.??

Telecare National Action Plan?

Data for People?

Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) has worked with? people who draw on care and support and family and friend carers to co-produce 15 key principles and 6 actions relating to the collection, storage, sharing, and use of data in care in England. The principles and actions identified relate to themes such as commitment to co-production, equity and inclusion, and trust and transparency.?

The report will be used to inform the Department of Health and Social Care’s approach to data. TLAP also hopes it sparks further discussions and drives ongoing efforts for better data practices across the whole of care and support.?

Data for People?

VIVALDI Social Care: Reducing Infections, Improving Lives?

The VIVALDI Social Care Team has started the data collection phase of its pilot which aims to enhance the understanding and management of infections in care settings. Over 600 care homes have joined this 12-month initiative, reflecting the sector’s commitment to advancing research and improving outcomes for residents and staff.??

The project, spearheaded by University College London (UCL), Care England, and The Outstanding Society, has been co-produced with input from residents, relatives, providers, and partners across health and social care.??

VIVALDI Social Care?

Digital Potential Tool launched in Wales?

Social Care Wales has developed a tool to give care providers a more complete picture of their organisation’s current digital skills and capabilities. The digital potential tool is free to use, and every social care provider in Wales has access to it.?

Digital Potential Tool?

Concerned about a ChatGPT data breach? Here’s what you need to know?

A hacker recently claimed on a dark web forum that they have stolen 20 million OpenAI user logins and are offering them for sale. It appears that while OpenAI has not been breached, the stolen credentials were likely obtained using?infostealer malware. If you’re concerned, Digital Care Hub recommends that you check the OpenAI helpline, scan for malware, update your passwords and set up multi-factor authentication.??

ChatGPT and OpenAI breach?

Safer Internet Day: tips for care managers?

11 February was Safer Internet Day. Care managers can equip staff with the right knowledge and tools to help people drawing on care to recognise online scams, protect their personal information, and feel a bit more confident online. Digital Care Hub shares some top tips.?

Tips for care managers and staff??

Better Security, Better Care: evaluation?

Since the inception of the programme, the percentage of social care providers completing and publishing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) has surged from just under 15% in April 2021 to over 76% by August 2024. The independent evaluation by Cordis Bright attributes this success to collaboration between a dedicated central team and 28 local support organisations (LSOs).?

The programme has also demonstrated excellent return on investment, with an estimated ￡2.71 saved in terms of reduced costs and disruption caused by data breaches and cyber attacks, for every ￡1 spent on the Better Security, Better Care programme.?

Evaluation report??