Praxis advocates for data workers rights
Shining a light on the invisible labor behind artificial intelligence
Equity investing
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Praxis Investment ManagementTM has expanded its advocacy into an Ethics in Tech engagement theme. One focus area of this new theme is data workers’ rights.
A common misconception about artificial intelligence (AI) is that it requires little to no human oversight. However, AI requires human moderation as it learns. This is the job of data workers. They are sometimes referred to as “ghost workers” because many people don’t know that they exist, creating human rights risk.
One type of data worker is a content moderator. Content moderators monitor and review user-generated content such as posts, photos, or videos on an online platform to evaluate if it honors the respective community guidelines. This could look like identifying or flagging content that violates guidelines or responding to content that is already flagged. Content is often extremely violent, sexual, and disturbing in nature.
Workers are rarely informed of the exact tasks they will be completing, and they are left to deal with the long-term effects of prolonged exposure to graphic material. These individuals often grapple with anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorders, and health problems without adequate physical or mental health support.
Data worker jobs are frequently outsourced through third party subcontractors to foreign countries, where job markets are limited. Companies routinely pay lower wages than agreed upon and expect unpaid overtime. Content moderators often sign non-disclosure agreements that are used to discourage workers from speaking out about their mistreatment.
As demand for data workers continues to increase, Praxis is working alongside other investors to engage tech companies for livable wages, adequate health care, and transparency in the hiring process.
A common misconception about artificial intelligence (AI) is that it requires little to no human oversight. However, AI requires human moderation as it learns. This is the job of data workers. They are sometimes referred to as “ghost workers” because many people don’t know that they exist, creating human rights risk.
One type of data worker is a content moderator. Content moderators monitor and review user-generated content such as posts, photos, or videos on an online platform to evaluate if it honors the respective community guidelines. This could look like identifying or flagging content that violates guidelines or responding to content that is already flagged. Content is often extremely violent, sexual, and disturbing in nature.
Workers are rarely informed of the exact tasks they will be completing, and they are left to deal with the long-term effects of prolonged exposure to graphic material. These individuals often grapple with anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorders, and health problems without adequate physical or mental health support.
Data worker jobs are frequently outsourced through third party subcontractors to foreign countries, where job markets are limited. Companies routinely pay lower wages than agreed upon and expect unpaid overtime. Content moderators often sign non-disclosure agreements that are used to discourage workers from speaking out about their mistreatment.
As demand for data workers continues to increase, Praxis is working alongside other investors to engage tech companies for livable wages, adequate health care, and transparency in the hiring process.