HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSIONS OF WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE IN THE GIG ECONOMY: APP-BASED WORKER MONITORING, PRIVACY AND LABOUR RIGHTS

AUTHOR – ISHA JAIN, STUDENT AT BHARATI VIDYAPEETH UNIVERSITY, PUNE

BEST CITATION – ISHA JAIN, HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSIONS OF WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE IN THE GIG ECONOMY: APP-BASED WORKER MONITORING, PRIVACY AND LABOUR RIGHTS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (8) OF 2026, PG. 848-853, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The emergence of the gig economy has transformed labour relations by introducing algorithmic governance systems embedded within what Shoshana Zuboff terms “surveillance capitalism,” where data extraction becomes central to economic value creation. Digital labour platforms monitor workers through GPS tracking, behavioural analytics, biometric verification and automated performance systems. While such technologies enhance efficiency and market responsiveness, they also raise serious concerns regarding privacy, dignity, labour rights and democratic accountability. This article examines the human rights implications of workplace surveillance in the gig economy by analysing international human rights instruments, constitutional jurisprudence and comparative labour law developments. It argues that excessive surveillance creates asymmetrical power structures that undermine informational autonomy and weaken collective labour protections. The article further evaluates the adequacy of existing legal frameworks in India, the European Union and the United States and proposes a rights-based regulatory framework grounded in transparency, proportionality and worker participation.

Keywords: Workplace surveillance, gig economy, worker monitoring, privacy, labour rights