A representative of the international trade union network UNI Global Union, Ben Richards, explained that workers in the data sector fall into two main categories: moderators who filter harmful materials, and data annotators who help machines learn. He pointed out that regardless of the country, they face similar conditions: "extreme pressure, constant monitoring, low wages, and negative impacts on mental health."
Challenges of Content Moderation
Large tech companies often draw labor from Global South countries for content moderation. One woman from India shared in an interview with The Guardian that she has to review hundreds of videos a day, including scenes of violence and death, and these materials cannot be skipped. Another young girl revealed that she was tasked with classifying content related to child abuse and pornography.In India, tens of thousands of such workers face a similar reality. For many of them, especially women from rural areas, working from home with internet access seems to be the only way to earn a living and gain independence. However, when they take up jobs, they do not know what materials they will be working with, and often sign contracts that prohibit discussing their work even with close ones. Human rights advocates express concern over such working conditions.
Richards reported that his organization is creating a global alliance of content moderators and developing safe work protocols based on the right to collective bargaining. He emphasized that the benefits of technology should be distributed equitably.
We strive for AI to enhance human capabilities.
Algorithmic Pressure
There is also data indicating that algorithmic management, where software systems dictate work rhythms and evaluations, increases pressure on workers and may threaten their safety.Evelyn Astor, Director of Economic and Social Policy at the International Confederation of Trade Unions, warned that the lack of AI regulation could exacerbate existing risks.
According to the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, in the first half of 2017, on average, every 2.5 days, one courier suffered serious injuries or died in an accident while working. Journalists link this statistic to algorithmic delivery systems that increase pressure on workers by shortening order completion times.
A study conducted by the University of Cambridge in 2025 found that about two-thirds of drivers and couriers in the UK work under anxiety due to "unfair feedback" and constant changes in work schedules set by algorithms.
Although platforms do not provide explicit instructions to violate safety rules, incentive systems, such as fines and bonuses for speed, create conditions where workers are forced to take risks to maintain their income.
Similar issues observed in delivery also arise in other areas where automated systems can manage shifts, wages, and even layoffs with minimal human oversight. Union representatives participating in the webinar emphasized that the implementation of AI without proper regulation could exacerbate already existing problems, including increased work pace and intensified digital surveillance.
The Need to Protect Workers' Rights
Bilal Jamousi, Deputy Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, stressed that AI is used in systems that have "real consequences for people's well-being," including hiring and access to services.In this regard, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are ramping up efforts to establish a global dialogue on the future of work in the age of AI.
According to Sher Verick, ILO Coordinator for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, "the main question is not whether AI will change the labor market – it is already changing it. The important thing is to ensure that these changes contribute to the creation of decent jobs and social justice."
The ILO and ITU are developing initiatives aimed at establishing international standards for regulating the impact of AI on the labor market, including the "AI for Good" platform and the Global Coalition for Social Justice. A key task for the UN system is to ensure that artificial intelligence opens up opportunities for realizing human potential rather than undermining the safety and well-being of workers.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: Unsplash/Finn.
