Last week, an op-ed by Ariana Aboulafia of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) was published in Tech Policy Press. It examined the impact of surveillance pricing on people with disabilities, highlighting potential privacy violations and increased costs for necessary products. This pricing method allows companies to set individualized prices based on extensive consumer data.
The article also discussed surveillance wage-setting, a similar practice where companies analyze personal data to determine the lowest wages individuals might accept. This practice is particularly concerning for people with disabilities. The concept was explored in research by law professor Veena Dubal, who initially focused on its use in the rideshare industry. As the gig economy grows, so does the potential application of surveillance wage-setting across various sectors such as food delivery, babysitting, handyman services, nursing, and dishwashing.
Currently, workers lack legal rights to know if or how their wages are being influenced by surveillance data. There is little transparency or recourse available to them.
For further insights into this issue, readers are encouraged to consult the full article.