Digitalisation and Social Security

Digitalisation has gradually progressed within government administration and the implementation of social security. Occasionally, certain events force quicker action, but mostly development proceeds steadily, so something is always happening. A good example is the Kanta Services. Their development began in Finland in 2007, when the Act on the Electronic Processing of Client Data in Social and Health Care was enacted. This law laid the foundation for building the Kanta system. The development was launched as a collaborative project involving organisations such as Kela, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Valvira, and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.

The first concrete services were introduced in 2010, when the electronic prescription and the OmaKanta service were launched. Over the years, the service package has expanded to include patient records, social welfare client data, and imaging materials such as X-rays.

Digitalisation is one of the most significant forces of societal change, and its effects extend to the field of social security. In the future, digitalisation will transform both the administration of social security and the delivery of services, bringing with it both opportunities and challenges.

One of the key benefits of digitalisation is improved accessibility of services. Online platforms, mobile applications, and AI-based chatbots enable clients to apply for benefits, receive guidance, and track the progress of their applications regardless of time or place. This reduces the need for physical visits and speeds up processes.

Automation and artificial intelligence can also enhance the processing of applications. For example, algorithms can identify incomplete applications, suggest corrections, or even make preliminary decisions in simple cases. This frees up staff time for more demanding tasks and improves resource efficiency.

With digitalisation, different authorities’ information systems can integrate more effectively, allowing for a more comprehensive view of an individual’s situation. This can lead to proactive social security, where the system identifies risks such as unemployment or financial hardship, before they materialise and offers support in advance. However, this is still a work in progress and involves risks.

While digitalisation brings efficiency, it also raises significant ethical questions. Social security data is often sensitive, and its handling requires special care. Data breaches or incorrect algorithmic decisions can have serious consequences for individuals. It is also essential to ensure that digitalisation does not exclude those who lack digital skills or access to technology. Social security must be accessible to everyone, including those who need support in using digital services.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has strengthened data protection and ethical principles in digitalising social security. It has compelled organisations to improve data security, increase transparency, and respect individual rights. At the same time, it has introduced challenges such as regulatory complexity and resource demands, but overall, it has been a step toward more responsible and secure digital social security.

The role of social security professionals is changing due to digitalisation. The automation of routine tasks shifts the focus to expert work, such as assessing complex cases, guiding clients, and resolving ethical issues. This requires continuous skill development and new types of training.

Digitalisation is transforming the social security sector in many ways: it improves accessibility and efficiency, enables proactive support, but also brings challenges related to data protection and equality. Future social security will require a balance between technological utilisation and human interaction to ensure the system remains fair and inclusive.

At Kela, we do demanding expert work. Digitalisation has changed and continues to change the nature of expert work in many ways. Technological development, automation, and artificial intelligence have brought new opportunities, but also challenges to the everyday life of experts. One of the biggest impacts of digitalisation is the automation of routine tasks. For example, data collection, reporting, and data processing can be handled automatically, allowing experts to focus on more demanding and creative tasks. This increases both the meaningfulness and efficiency of the work.

Digitalisation brings with it new tools, such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and various digital platforms. In expert work, the ability to utilise these tools and continuous learning are emphasised. Developing one’s skills is essential so that experts can keep up with the changes and take advantage of the opportunities offered by technology.

Digital tools enable smooth collaboration across organisational boundaries and geographical distances. Experts can share information, work together in real time, and benefit from a broader network of expertise. This speeds up the flow of information and improves decision-making.

The role of the expert is shifting more and more from producing and processing information to interpreting and applying it. Artificial intelligence and automation can generate vast amounts of data, but it is the expert’s task to assess the reliability of the information, draw conclusions, and apply it in practice.

Digitalisation also brings new ethical challenges. Experts must understand issues related to data protection, privacy, and the responsible use of information. Ethical competence becomes increasingly important as decisions are made more and more based on data and algorithms.

Digitalisation is transforming expert work in many ways: it streamlines operations, enables new forms of collaboration, and requires continuous skill development. The role of the expert is highlighted as an interpreter of information and a responsible decision-maker. In the future, those experts will succeed who can make use of technology, develop their skills, and act ethically in a changing work environment.

I have been using artificial intelligence in my daily life for some time now, and my experiences have been mostly very positive. AI is not just a technical tool, as it has changed the way I learn, work, and solve problems. When everything works smoothly, AI can feel like an invisible assistant that helps me focus on what matters most. One of the biggest benefits has been time savings. It doesn’t do the work for me, but it serves as an excellent support. Of course, using AI requires critical thinking. It’s important to understand that AI is not infallible, nor does it replace human judgment. But when used thoughtfully and with clear goals, it can be a highly useful tool. I just did a few test searches, for example about Kela’s Eepos program, and found plenty of information. The text was logical and clear.

While writing this assignment, I learned how broad and multi-layered the development of digitalisation has been. Digitalisation is not just about adopting new technologies. It also transforms working methods, customer experiences, and the roles of employees. It can improve the accessibility and efficiency of services, but at the same time, it introduces new challenges, such as risks related to data protection and ethical considerations. The impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) made it clear how important it is to protect individual rights in a digital environment.

There is still much to learn, and it is important to stay curious and alert as digitalisation continues to evolve.

I commented on DIGI SOCIETY – Krista’s site and DIGI SOCIETY – Timo’s site