A new frontier is opening in the debate around gig economy worker rights. This time, it’s not about employment status, it’s about how the algorithms that govern their time and wages work.
The latest example: in early July, Italy’s data protection watchdog fined Glovo-owned food delivery outfit Foodinho €2.6m over the way it used algorithms for managing its delivery riders. It found violations of labour and privacy laws in how data is used by the company that could be discriminatory.
The authority found shortcomings in the way the tech is deployed. It said that Foodinho did not adequately explain to riders how the algorithm worked and assessed their performance nor did it provide avenues for riders to challenge algorithmic decisions, leaving these riders with little recourse.
Foodinho was ordered to fix the issues, including remedies that prevent “inappropriate and/or discriminatory applications” of its technology. Glovo said it is considering appealing the ruling.
