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Analyzing Social Impact in European Projects: PLUS ETHICS’ Experience and Practical Methodology

Within the landscape of European projects, especially those involving disruptive technologies and sensitive domains such as security or social cohesion (e.g., “Horizon Europe” Clusters 2 and 3, “H2020”, “European Defence Fund”, “Internal Security Fund”, among others), social impact analysis has become an essential tool. It ensures that innovation is not only effective but also legitimate, ethical, and sustainable.

Since the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, social innovation has increasingly focused on developing projects that directly contribute to these global aims. This shift brings a growing responsibility to integrate social and environmental perspectives from project inception, ensuring that technological advances benefit all European citizens within an inclusive society and help prevent new inequalities or risks.

At PLUS ETHICS, we have developed extensive expertise in this field, combining participatory methodologies with rigorous theoretical approaches to deliver comprehensive evaluations. These evaluations provide real value to both political and technological decision-making.

Practical and Participatory Methodologies

A cornerstone of our work is the use of participatory techniques that position citizens and key stakeholders at the heart of the evaluation process. These methods include nominal groups, collaborative workshops, in-depth interviews, and structured surveys, allowing us to:

Identify the concerns, expectations, and perceptions of those affected by policies or technologies.

  • Promote co-production of knowledge and facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue.
  • Detect risks overlooked in strictly technical analyses.
  • Foster transparency and trust throughout the evaluation process.

This practical, participatory approach is particularly relevant for European projects that seek to balance innovation with social rights, especially where public acceptance is crucial to project success.

Incorporating Innovative Theoretical Frameworks

In addition to practical application, PLUS ETHICS is committed to anchoring our analyses in theoretical frameworks that provide rigor and systematicity. Recently, in a project aimed at integrating multiple data sources to enhance public security in urban spaces and large events across Europe, we applied the DUTUS (Democratic Use of Technology in Urban Security) framework. Developed in 2024 by F. J. Castro-Toledo and A. B. Gómez-Bellvís (CEO/co-founder and associate researcher, respectively, at PLUS ETHICS), this model establishes three interrelated requirements for any security-focused technology:

  • Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Ethical Commitment: Respect for key principles such as privacy, justice, and equity.
  • Positive Social Impact: Rigorous evaluation of technology’s effects on citizens and communities.

The third pillar of the DUTUS framework breaks down into six essential social dimensions:

  • Citizen Participation: Ensuring that communities influence the design and use of technology.
  • Independent Audit: Providing for external oversight and accountability.
  • Perceived Fear of Crime: Measuring the impact on individuals’ sense of security.
  • Crime Rates and Regulatory Compliance: Evaluating actual effectiveness.
  • Legitimacy of Authorities: Strengthening public trust.
  • Economic Sustainability: Ensuring investments are efficient and proportionate.

These dimensions enable a balanced approach to innovation and legitimacy in complex projects, where technology and society intersect to tackle public security challenges responsibly and effectively. Implementing this framework has allowed us to structure social impact analysis in a clear, multidimensional way—integrating technical, social, and ethical considerations to anticipate potential risks and design mitigation measures from the project’s outset.

Relevance in the European and Security Contexts

European projects increasingly require holistic evaluations that consider not only technical or financial aspects, but also social and ethical criteria. This need is particularly acute in initiatives where the interplay between technology and fundamental rights can generate social concerns or erode public trust.

PLUS ETHICS offers a specialized approach for these contexts, combining:

  • Deep understanding of European regulations (GDPR, DSA, Charter of Fundamental Rights).
  • Experience with participatory methodologies tailored to cultural and political diversity.
  • Capacity to integrate innovative theoretical frameworks to guide evaluations.
  • Design of practical recommendations that balance operational effectiveness and democratic legitimacy.

This enables consortia to anticipate social impacts, foster public acceptance, and comply with the demanding ethical and regulatory standards required across Europe.

Toward Comprehensive and Sustainable Evaluation

At PLUS ETHICS, we understand that social impact assessment is not just an isolated formality, but a dynamic, cross-cutting process that should accompany the entire project lifecycle—from initial design, through implementation, to post-deployment monitoring. Our approach combines qualitative and quantitative analysis, active community participation, and continuous review based on clear, context-specific indicators. In this way, we achieve a virtuous balance among technological innovation, social rights, and public trust.

Reference: Castro Toledo, F. J., & Gómez-Bellvís, A. B. (2024). Using Technology Democratically: Development of a Self-Assessment Tool to Support Urban Security Authorities. CrimRxiv. https://doi.org/10.21428/cb6ab371.57080d50