Tech companies are massively investing in and hyping “artificial intelligence” systems. But, unlike what the name suggests, these systems are far from being fully automated –– they require human workers to classify, train and moderate data and content. With the term data worker we refer to those who produce the data that trains automated systems. This includes data labelers, analysts, wranglers, and collectors, as well as content moderators.
Data workers are often hired under very precarious conditions, circumventing traditional labor protection. Furthermore, the work itself is deliberately fragmented and companies insist that it is “easy.” Thus, portrayals of data workers as low-skill abound. These tendencies signal new labor challenges concerning the rights of data workers, the role of large corporations in exploiting a deregulated system, and the need for adequate government responses.
In order to tackle these gaps, a serious inquiry is needed that foregrounds data workers’ experiences and demands, because they alone can describe with full knowledge the misfortunes from which they suffer. Documenting the conflicts and grievances that emerge from these “new” modes of work is an essential first to step to foster solidarity and change. As researchers, we want to accompany and not govern this process.
In the following, we present 25 questions designed to spark conversations among data workers. The questions cover topics such as the material conditions of the workplace, salaries, healthcare, and political representation. It is not essential to answer all of them. However, detailed answers and examples from your lived experiences are very welcome. Most likely, the questions will not cover all aspects that you consider relevant –– this is another instance where your own expertise is valuable: please feel free to include any additional aspects that come up in conversations.
| 1 | What company do you work for? What is your job position? |
| 2 | How many workers, team leaders, and managers are there? What tools and technologies are used to manage workers? |
| 3 | Who are the clients of your company? Where are they located? |
| 4 | Please describe your main tasks. How are workflows structured? How is work divided? What skills are required? |
| 5 | Where do you work? What technology is used in your everyday work life? How is space arranged for individual workers? |
| 6 | Are you responsible for security and maintenance of devices? How much is predetermined/preprogrammed from management position? What happens if they break? |
| 7 | Do you work from home? Does the company provide technical support and equipment? If not, how long is your commute? |
| 8 | Do you know people who lost jobs due to technological improvements? |
| 9 | What are your contract terms? (Fixed-term/open-ended, contractor/employee etc.) |
| 10 | How many hours do you work? Do you work in shifts? How long are they? How are work times controlled? |
| 11 | Do you have breaks? Do you work outside dedicated hours? How much vacation are you entitled to? |
| 12 | How is quality of work assessed? Does it impact pay? |
| 13 | What is your salary? How do you receive pay? |
| 14 | Does your salary cover living expenses? Do you have money left at the end of the month? |
| 15 | Were there recent pay changes? How much and why? |
| 16 | Do you know how much profit your work generates? Can you compare your wage to the value generated? |
| 17 | How does your job impact mental and physical health? |
| 18 | What employment rights and protections do you have? Are there support structures at work? |
| 19 | Do you receive other benefits beyond salary? (Health Insurance, pension etc.) |
| 20 | Are there workers‘ organizations and unions? Are you a member? |
| 21 | Have there been strikes? If yes, what were the demands and results? |
| 22 | What do employers do to undermine worker solidarity? Do they coordinate? What are the effects? |
| 23 | Has the local/regional/national/international government intervened in worker-employer conflicts? Whose position did they support? |
| 24 | What are the general physical, intellectual and moral conditions of life of the working men and women employed in your trade? |
| 25 | What more would you like to share? |
Expected Tasks
Guidelines for the final product
Assistance provided by the Berlin Research Team
Milagros Miceli – Technische Universität Berlin, Weizenbaum Insitute.
m.miceli(at)tu-berlin.de
Adio-Adet Dinika – Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, DAIR Institute.
adio(at)dair-institute.org
Camilla Salim Wagner – Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Weizenbaum Institute.
camilla.salim.wagner(at)tu-berlin.de
Laurenz Sachenbacher – Technische Universität Berlin, Weizenbaum Institute.
l.sachenbacher(at)tu-berlin.de