When Precarious Living Conditions Undermine the Digital Security of the French
Paying taxes, getting reimbursed for medical expenses or registering as a job seeker: all these procedures now take place online. While digital public services are designed to be easy to use for as many people as possible, these tools sometimes prove to be a double-edged sword for the most precarious populations.
By Maëlys T.
What Is Digital Precariousness?
Nearly one in four people
were digitally excluded in 2023
Source: CREDOC (Research Centre for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions)
These individuals face daily difficulties accessing online infrastructure, connecting to WiFi, or using digital tools. Challenges that sometimes make them ideal targets for hackers.
Precariousness refers to: “the absence of one or several forms of security— particularly employment security—allowing individuals and families to meet their professional, family, and social obligations, and to enjoy their fundamental rights.”
Source: Economic, Social and Environmental Council
The lack of digital literacy can complicate:
- Job seeking: filling out applications, navigating France Travail’s website, and checking received messages.
- Applying for social housing: completing online forms with required documents, logging into one’s account to track the request…
- Accessing healthcare: logging into one’s account, requesting a health insurance card or complementary solidarity coverage (formerly CMU), receiving reimbursements. “Physical and mental health remains relegated to the background, even a minor concern for people in precarious situations.” (Chantal Zaouche-Gaudron & Paule Sanchou, *Revue Empan*, 2005).
- Education: accessing children’s homework via École Direct or Pronote, registering them or justifying an absence.
- Access to citizenship and social benefits: prefecture-related procedures, learning French, accessing various allowances.
People in precarious situations are already heavily monitored by institutions. As a result, technology can further isolate them by highlighting their lack of responsiveness to administrative requirements.
From Forgotten Passwords to Extortion
To access these online services, a personal account is required. User identification relies on an email address and a password. The challenge is to protect this personal data and keep sensitive information confidential.
Consider the following situation: someone facing severe precariousness does not fully understand instructions—due to limited digital literacy or a language barrier. They ask a relative to create their account and set up a password for them. The day this person loses contact with their helper, they may no longer be able to access their account to check their file, update their situation, or submit a new request.
For public services supporting people in severe precariousness, two issues arise: device security and password management. We often see individuals coming back every session just to retrieve their password.
Charlotte Martinez, head of the digital inclusion program (Numérique en Commun[s], 2024).
When someone needs to access multiple services such as the CAF (Family Benefits Office), passwords can become a real hurdle. And when bills pile up or an eviction notice looms, protecting personal data becomes a secondary concern. Some scammers exploit this distress using various strategies. For example:
- The targeted person receives a text or email. The sender offers to pay them €300 a day to send dozens of letters without leaving their home. All they need to do is send their bank details or identification documents. With rent due soon, the offer seems irresistible. Once in possession of these documents, the scammer can easily spend money or commit crimes in their name.
- Fake administrative websites: scams take advantage of the difficulty in understanding what is being requested and distinguishing a real website from a fake one. The targeted person visits a site displaying an official logo and administrative language, encouraging them to share personal information—data that can later be used without their knowledge.
What If the Next Vulnerable Person Is You?
Digital helpers—such as relatives, social workers, healthcare professionals (specialized educators, social workers, community mediators…)—often feel powerless when faced with online scams: detecting them is not part of their initial training.
Perhaps you too are a digital helper, sometimes overwhelmed despite wanting to support a loved one as best as you can. All of us encounter difficulties with digital tools and services—or know someone who does. This is why staying informed about these risks is crucial to avoiding the traps present in our daily digital lives.
References:
- ANCT: The Digital French Society — Defining and Measuring Digital Exclusion
- CESE: Extreme Poverty and Economic and Social Precariousness
- Digital Inclusion of People with Disabilities
[Cover photo: Kobu Agency]