Designing Sousveillance Tools for Gig Workers

Designing Sousveillance Tools for Gig Workers

23 Mar 2024 | Maya De Los Santos*, Kimberly Do*, Michael Muller, Saiph Savage
This paper explores the design of sousveillance tools for gig workers, focusing on how to create empathetic and empowering technologies that align with gig workers' needs and experiences. Gig workers, who are independently contracted, face significant challenges due to workplace surveillance, including increased pressure to work, privacy breaches, and reduced digital autonomy. While some critical theorists propose sousveillance as a means to counteract such abuses, gig workers lack the tools and strategies to protect themselves. This study conducted semi-structured interviews and co-design activities with gig workers to understand their attitudes, experiences, and visions for sousveillance. Using care ethics as a guiding concept, the research identified gig workers' perspectives on sousveillance, the types of technologies they envision, and the risks they face. The study also highlights the importance of human-centered design in developing sousveillance tools that support gig workers' well-being and digital autonomy. The findings suggest that sousveillance can empower workers to reveal and retaliate against hidden injustices in the gig economy. However, the study also notes the challenges of implementing sousveillance, including the need to balance transparency with privacy and to navigate complex social dynamics. The research concludes that care ethics provides a framework for designing sousveillance tools that prioritize the wellbeing of gig workers and promote empathetic, collaborative gig work environments.This paper explores the design of sousveillance tools for gig workers, focusing on how to create empathetic and empowering technologies that align with gig workers' needs and experiences. Gig workers, who are independently contracted, face significant challenges due to workplace surveillance, including increased pressure to work, privacy breaches, and reduced digital autonomy. While some critical theorists propose sousveillance as a means to counteract such abuses, gig workers lack the tools and strategies to protect themselves. This study conducted semi-structured interviews and co-design activities with gig workers to understand their attitudes, experiences, and visions for sousveillance. Using care ethics as a guiding concept, the research identified gig workers' perspectives on sousveillance, the types of technologies they envision, and the risks they face. The study also highlights the importance of human-centered design in developing sousveillance tools that support gig workers' well-being and digital autonomy. The findings suggest that sousveillance can empower workers to reveal and retaliate against hidden injustices in the gig economy. However, the study also notes the challenges of implementing sousveillance, including the need to balance transparency with privacy and to navigate complex social dynamics. The research concludes that care ethics provides a framework for designing sousveillance tools that prioritize the wellbeing of gig workers and promote empathetic, collaborative gig work environments.
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