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Demystifying Technology for Policymaking: Exploring the Rideshare Context and Data Initiative Opportunities to Advance Tech Policymaking Efforts

Angie Zhang

TL;DR

A case study of app-based rideshare driving in the U.S. highlights the political strategies of platforms with those of drivers to illustrate the conflicting narratives policymakers face when trying to oversee gig work platforms.

Abstract

In the face of rapidly advancing technologies, evidence of harms they can exacerbate, and insufficient policy to ensure accountability from tech companies, what are HCI opportunities for advancing policymaking of technology? In this paper, we explore challenges and opportunities for tech policymaking through a case study of app-based rideshare driving. We begin with background on rideshare platforms and how they operate. Next, we review literature on algorithmic management about how rideshare drivers actually experience platform features -- often to the detriment of their well-being -- and ways they respond. In light of this, researchers and advocates have called for increased worker protections, thus we turn to rideshare policy and regulation efforts in the U.S. Here, we differentiate the political strategies of platforms with those of drivers to illustrate the conflicting narratives policymakers face when trying to oversee gig work platforms. We reflect that past methods surfacing drivers' experiences may be insufficient for policymaker needs when developing oversight. To address this gap and our original inquiry -- what are HCI opportunities for advancing tech policymaking -- we briefly explore two paths forward for holding tech companies accountable in the rideshare context: (1) data transparency initiatives to enable collective auditing by workers and (2) legal frameworks for holding platforms accountable.

Demystifying Technology for Policymaking: Exploring the Rideshare Context and Data Initiative Opportunities to Advance Tech Policymaking Efforts

TL;DR

A case study of app-based rideshare driving in the U.S. highlights the political strategies of platforms with those of drivers to illustrate the conflicting narratives policymakers face when trying to oversee gig work platforms.

Abstract

In the face of rapidly advancing technologies, evidence of harms they can exacerbate, and insufficient policy to ensure accountability from tech companies, what are HCI opportunities for advancing policymaking of technology? In this paper, we explore challenges and opportunities for tech policymaking through a case study of app-based rideshare driving. We begin with background on rideshare platforms and how they operate. Next, we review literature on algorithmic management about how rideshare drivers actually experience platform features -- often to the detriment of their well-being -- and ways they respond. In light of this, researchers and advocates have called for increased worker protections, thus we turn to rideshare policy and regulation efforts in the U.S. Here, we differentiate the political strategies of platforms with those of drivers to illustrate the conflicting narratives policymakers face when trying to oversee gig work platforms. We reflect that past methods surfacing drivers' experiences may be insufficient for policymaker needs when developing oversight. To address this gap and our original inquiry -- what are HCI opportunities for advancing tech policymaking -- we briefly explore two paths forward for holding tech companies accountable in the rideshare context: (1) data transparency initiatives to enable collective auditing by workers and (2) legal frameworks for holding platforms accountable.
Paper Structure (15 sections, 1 figure, 1 table)

This paper contains 15 sections, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Roadmap
  3. Background on Rideshare Platform Operations: You Can't Regulate What You Don't Understand
  4. Introduction of Rideshare Platforms
  5. Platform Operations & Terminology
  6. Impacts of Gig Work Platforms on Workers
  7. Characterizing Driver Behaviors
  8. Platform Tactics and Impacts on Workers
  9. Rideshare Policymaking & Regulation: A Clash Between Platforms and Driver Organizers
  10. Platform Objectives for Rideshare Regulation
  11. Driver Organizing Efforts and Worker-Centered Regulation Attempts
  12. Charting Future Directions for HCI and Policymaking Collaborations
  13. Data Advocacy & Transparency Initiatives
  14. Exploring Legal Frameworks
  15. Conclusion

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: An abbreviated overview of events in the United States related to app-based gig work policy and regulation evolution. Noticeably, there is a large gap between 2009-2017 of meaningful attempts, with more efforts occurring in 2022-2023. The endpoint(s) of each line denotes who the event was initiated by and/or benefited. For example, the passage of Prop 22 is denoted with a square (platform) and circle (policy) as it was a platform-backed policy that passed. In some cases, a policy does not have a corresponding square (platform) or triangle (worker groups) because it resulted in mixed outcomes for both groups.