The Platform Proletariat: How the artificial intelligence industry profits from an unprotected digital working class in Brazil
Workers perform crucial tasks for the development of AI systems, such as data classification and content moderation, but remain invisible and poorly compensated, highlighting the disparity between the importance of their work and the recognition received.
Workers on platforms like Appen, Tellus, and OneForma receive low wages and work in precarious conditions, without benefits, and under fragile contracts, reflecting a growing problem in the digital labor market. They’re often legally unprotected, with little chance to claim labor rights due to the absence of legal representation for companies in their countries, such as Brazil.
Despite discussions around the regulation of digital work and artificial intelligence, data workers are often overlooked, exacerbating precariousness and lack of rights.
The economic crisis caused by the pandemic increased reliance on remote work in countries like Brazil, where unemployment and the need to work from home drove people to join these platforms. However, since they are completely informal, there is no data on the exact size of this new working class.
The need for organization and mutual support among workers is vital to improving their working conditions and increasing bargaining power and improving the quality of the work.
