Micro-labour isn’t a clever way of describing a recalcitrant colleague’s deficient work practices. And it has nothing to do with nano-technology either. It’s about using the Internet to outsource small tasks to eager workers – sort of like a digital notice-board for odd jobs and errands. It sounds like the perfect way to earn extra income. But could its growing popularity erode working conditions and lead to exploitation?
Guests:
Professor Jonathan Zittrain, Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Professor of Computer Science, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Co-Founder and Director, Berkman Centre for Internet & Society.
Jamie Viggiano, Senior Director of Marketing at TaskRabbit.
Tim Fung, Founder and CEO of Airtasker.
Scott Kirsner, Boston Globe columnist and blogger.
Catherine Ruckleshaus, Legal Co-Director, National Employment Law Project, US.
Further Information:
Jonathan Zittrain’s profile (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/jzittrain)
Jonathan Zittrain’s (PDF) paper on ubiquitous human computing (http://iis-db.stanford.edu/evnts/5812/Zittrain_Paper.pdf)
Scott Kirsner’s article on micro-labour (http://www.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2012/04/my_life_as_a_micro-laborer_exp.html)
Taskrabbit (https://www.taskrabbit.com/)
Airtasker (https://www.airtasker.com/)
Catherine Ruckleshaus profile (http://www.nelp.org/site/about_us/legal_co_director)
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/the-rise-of-micro-labour/4581550