The workers strike back- A literature survey of digital circumvention tools used by online gig workers

Abstract

Most studies of digital labor platforms –also known as gig platforms –investigate how workers are affected by platforms through algorithmic control and governance models implemented by platform owners. We draw on platform boundary resource model to review an emerging body of literature that looks at how platform workers cope with this platform-enforced governance through an array of digital circumvention tools. We find that workers make use of several types of such tools including social media, chat groups, and various forms of specialized software. We show what this type of digital circumvention tools are used for, and discuss their challenges and potential impact on labor platform ecosystems.