Social Protection and Technology: Impacts of CadÚnico on Social Policies in Brazil

The Cadastro Único (CadÚnico) is a digital tool developed by the Brazilian government to collect data from families in vulnerable situations and centralize access to social protection. However, due to the high social inequality in Brazil and potential technological limitations, its role in promoting social development is questioned. This article, through a literature review and document analysis, argues that CadÚnico has restructured social protection by creating platform-based systems for institutions and programs, leading to an excessive focus on economic criteria. Digital inequality and the exclusion of social workers from the evaluation process further reveal the technological limitations. These limitations hinder the platform's ability to interpret the nuances of social reality, ultimately compromising the efficacy of social policies in ensuring access to rights for the population. It is recommended to revise the use of the platform, shifting it from a central to a supportive role, thereby strengthening the social protection system in Brazil.