The avalanche of technology: Critical perspectives on digital penality in Europe

The integration of digital technologies within European penality has become increasingly prevalent, transforming how prisons and probation services operate. This chapter explores the range of technologies employed in the justice system, including electronic monitoring, computerized risk assessments, virtual reality, and mobile applications, all aimed at enhancing management, communication, education, and rehabilitation of justice-involved individuals. By examining these innovations through a critical lens informed by scholars such as Michel Foucault, Shoshana Zuboff, Evelyn Ruppert, Ruha Benjamin and Mike Nellis we investigate how these technologies reconfigure power dynamics, supervision and surveillance practices, and the commodification of individuals.
The chapter discusses both the advantages and ethical dilemmas associated with these technologies, emphasizing the need to balance technological efficiency with human supervision, human rights, and dignity. It also highlights concerns such as the potential for increased surveillance, the reduction of individuals to data points (datafication), and the risk of reinforcing social inequalities. By estimating the impact of digital tools in the European criminal justice system, this chapter aims to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the future of penology in an increasingly digital world.