Madhumita Murgia’s book “Code Dependent” has great on-the-ground research on the disgraceful practice of outsourcing labelling to legally distinct companies whose workers are mostly in the developing world. As well as flouting labour laws it allows them to deal with material that would be flat out illegal to possess. I bought her ebook. Totally recommend it.
Her ebook sounds great, Sarah! I'll look for it. It sounds related to something I was just reading this weekend about “ethics dumping”, where harmful aspects of AI are often pushed offshore where they are less likely to be reported upon. (I found a free online course on ethics dumping by Prof. Doris Schroeder: https://aiethicscourse.org/lectures/ai-ethics-dumping .) Thank you for recommending the book 😊
It's such an important element of AI production and consumption to highlight - the 'who' of what makes it possible. And perhaps, more importantly as you've raised in this piece, the hidden workers who make it possible.
If anyone reading this is interested in hearing more from data workers in the global south, <https://data-workers.org/> is "a community-based research project in which data workers join us as community researchers to lead their own inquiry in their respective workplaces," - amplifying the voices of those so rarely heard from in all the noise surrounding AI.
Re how AI companies (mis)treat their data workers, see this April 21 article: “How Big Tech hides its outsourced African workforce”. It names names and shares data:
Madhumita Murgia’s book “Code Dependent” has great on-the-ground research on the disgraceful practice of outsourcing labelling to legally distinct companies whose workers are mostly in the developing world. As well as flouting labour laws it allows them to deal with material that would be flat out illegal to possess. I bought her ebook. Totally recommend it.
Her ebook sounds great, Sarah! I'll look for it. It sounds related to something I was just reading this weekend about “ethics dumping”, where harmful aspects of AI are often pushed offshore where they are less likely to be reported upon. (I found a free online course on ethics dumping by Prof. Doris Schroeder: https://aiethicscourse.org/lectures/ai-ethics-dumping .) Thank you for recommending the book 😊
Oooo. The term “ethics dumping” is evocative isn’t it. Noted. I’ll check out the free course.
Did not want to spam, but to save hunting here’s her book on Pan MacMillan’s website:
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/madhumita-murgia/code-dependent/9781529097320
Not spam at all - thank you for the book link, Sarah!
Such a helpful breakdown and framing. Thank you!
So glad you found it helpful, Valerie!
It's such an important element of AI production and consumption to highlight - the 'who' of what makes it possible. And perhaps, more importantly as you've raised in this piece, the hidden workers who make it possible.
If anyone reading this is interested in hearing more from data workers in the global south, <https://data-workers.org/> is "a community-based research project in which data workers join us as community researchers to lead their own inquiry in their respective workplaces," - amplifying the voices of those so rarely heard from in all the noise surrounding AI.
Great to know about this research project and that data workers are leading the inquiries! Thank you, Nancy Elizabeth.
Re how AI companies (mis)treat their data workers, see this April 21 article: “How Big Tech hides its outsourced African workforce”. It names names and shares data:
https://restofworld.org/2025/big-tech-ai-labor-supply-chain-african-workers/