Freedom and Algorithmic Control in Gig Economy: A Study of Chinese Food-Delivery Workers

This project aims to explore how Chinese food-delivery “gig workers” cope with a precarious work environment that is increasingly controlled by algorithms and mobile technologies. Through investigating how digital technologies mediate production and control of gig work, we seek to shed light on the entanglement of technology and daily routines of Chinese gig workers, and to provide a fresh reference point for discussing gig economy in a global context.