Algorithms command, men respond: the employer power of software and the exploitation of the worker in the era of the platform-gig-economy

This paper examines how digital platforms and algorithmic management are transforming work within the platform-gig-economy. Focusing on services such as Uber and Just Eat, it questions whether algorithms merely support workers or exercise structural control over them, contributing to the emergence of an “algocracy” in which human participation in decision-making is progressively reduced. The analysis highlights labour exploitation, pervasive surveillance, information asymmetry, worker alienation, and obstacles to digital unionism. It also considers Directive (EU) 2024/2831 as a possible regulatory response, emphasizing the importance of employment protections and digital collective bargaining. The paper ultimately advocates for a model of “Digital Humanism” capable of placing dignity, transparency, and human responsibility at the centre of technological innovation.