"Am I Not Human?" — Data Workers Demand Dignity in the Digital Economy

The speakers offered a cross-continental perspective on the working conditions of data workers in Kenya and Germany. The panel explored the need for fairer labour practices, including legal protections, union rights, mental health support, and fair pay.

Joan Kinyua, Kenya Data Labelers Association, described the day-to-day realities of data labeling— gruelling pressures in terms of workload and accuracy requirements, lack of breaks, and particularly harmful work environments for women. Remote work and freelance status often leave workers isolated and uninformed of their rights. In response to these issues and rooted in a 2024 workshop in Nairobi, the Data Labelers Association was founded, beginning with ten members and growing steadily to several hundred members, aiming to provide support and build solidarity.

Andreas Hänisch, Worker's Council at TikTok in Berlin, also shared on the experience of TikTok’s in-house content moderators, who, despite better terms than outsourced peers, still endure inferior conditions compared to other staff. As AI increasingly augments content moderation, the panel warned of full automation, citing serious misjudgements by AI systems and affirming the continued necessity of human oversight.

The importance of legal literacy and direct worker involvement in shaping policy was another concern of both panelists. The session concluded with a unified call for decent working conditions, social protection, and inclusive legislation—asserting that those powering our digital platforms deserve visibility, justice and their own voices.

The session was supported by the Gig Economy initiative and the International Digital Dialogues, on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Ministry for Digitalization and State Modernization.