A critical term for the way Uberization (the gig‑economy model of precarious, algorithm‑managed labor) functions as
authoritarian control. Workers are subjected to opaque algorithms, instant deactivation without due process, and surveillance that monitors every movement. There is no appeal, no union, no stability.
Authoritarian Uberization replaces the employer‑employee
relationship with a system of absolute, unaccountable power that demands total flexibility while offering zero security. It is the authoritarian face of the gig economy.
Example: “A glitch in the app deactivated his account—no income, no explanation, no human to talk to. That’s authoritarian Uberization: rule by algorithm, with no right to reply.”
Totalitarian Uberization
A more extreme version of Authoritarian Uberization, arguing that the
gig platform model is
totalitarian in its ambition to govern every aspect of workers’ lives. From scheduling to performance feedback, from pay rates to social credit scores, the platform seeks total control. It does this not through overt coercion but through seamless integration: workers voluntarily surrender autonomy because the platform is their only access to work.
Totalitarian Uberization is the normalization of absolute employer power hidden behind an app’s friendly interface.
Example: “The app tracked his location off the clock, docked pay for breaks, and even rated his ‘reliability’ based on personal reviews. Totalitarian Uberization: the platform as panopticon.”
