The Societal Impact of Faulty Accounting

What the paper says

This article covers the implications of mishandling a faulty accounting system and the false reports it generated, using the case ‘Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office’. The wider social implications that arise from such faulty information is considered in detail. The impact it had on the lives of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and their families when the Post Office started prosecuting to recover the money that was reported missing raises questions about the powers of institutions that make up our civil society. It also raises questions as to why was it that most IT specialists and accountants who are aware that information systems have bugs do not act as whistle-blowers. The case raises questions as to if this a case of software error or a case of large-scale fraud. The case highlights that the societal impact of any accusations need to be judicially handled both technically and politically. The fact that the Post Office has the right to prosecute without any oversight demands a closer inspection of accountability in these institutions. While the societal impact of faulty accounting at the British Post Office is considered in depth, a similar scandal called ‘Robodebt’ and its impact in Australia is also considered.