Watched at Work. -The Gig Economy’s Surveillance Dilemma

This report explores how UK gig economy platforms such as Uber and Deliveroo use surveillance technologies—including GPS tracking, automated decision-making, and performance monitoring—and the effects these have on workers’ privacy, autonomy, and livelihoods. Through an analysis grounded in Participatory Design, Design Justice, and Intersectionality, the report critiques how these systems often reinforce power imbalances, algorithmic bias, and worker precarity. It investigates the ethical implications of opaque algorithms and data practices, examining how workers’ rights are compromised in the absence of transparency and regulation. Drawing on academic research, case studies, and policy reports, the report argues for a shift toward more inclusive, ethical, and worker-centered design of platform technologies, and highlights the importance of accountability and co-design in creating fairer futures for gig workers.