Human Rights Watch has published "Algorithms of Exploitation," documenting conditions faced by platform workers in nine countries: India, Kenya, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Pakistan, UAE, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa. The report is based on interviews with over 400 platform workers across food delivery, ride-hailing, domestic work, and digital freelancing.
Key Findings
Workers reported sudden and unexplained account deactivation — effectively termination without notice or appeal — as the single most damaging practice they face. Workers in every country reported unpredictable earnings, with platforms changing fee structures with little or no notice.
Young Workers Most Exposed
The ILO estimates that 243 million workers in the global gig economy are under 35, representing nearly two-thirds of the total. Young workers are particularly vulnerable as gig work is often their only option during periods of high youth unemployment.
What Needs to Change
HRW calls for governments to extend employment classification to cover platform workers, require transparent algorithmic accountability, and mandate portable benefit accounts that travel with workers between platforms.