EU Sources - Algorithmic control shapes platform work - February 28, 2026

There is a largely invisible workforce operating in the digital realm, providing professional services remotely through online labour platforms. A particular feature of the working conditions of such workers is the use by platforms of algorithmic management systems to coordinate and control the labour process. A comprehensive new survey conducted by Eurofound and the European Labour Authority (ELA) reveals that the majority of online platform workers in Europe operate under extensive levels of algorithmic surveillance and control. In fact, three-quarters of those who participated in the survey reported experiencing constant time tracking, two-thirds face communications monitoring and half undergo screen surveillance.

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