Crimes against blue-collar platform workers are rising in India. Platform workers are a rising segment of India’s working population, using platforms like Uber, Upwork or Swiggy to deliver goods and services. In January 2023, Uber driver Priyanka Devi was attacked by two assailants who stole her belongings, slashed her neck and left her bleeding. A week later, a Swiggy delivery agent was attacked by a customer’s dog and passed away after jumping from the third floor to save himself. In February 2023, a customer stabbed a Flipkart delivery agent to secure an iPhone.

Most platforms denied knowledge of or responsibility for the events and made no changes to prevent further tragedy. Priyanka Devi reported that Uber did not contact her for days, and that it was only media attention that forced them to do so. Uber executives blame Priyanka for not pushing the in-app emergency button during the attack.

These events are a manifestation of ‘necrocapitalism’ … an extension of algorithmic biopower, using an employee’s time, body and life to maximise organisational profits…

Platforms promise flexibility to low-wage or unemployed individuals. But this rhetoric is paradoxical. Embedded algorithms manipulate worker behaviour…

…Uber drivers — especially women — face potential abuse while being forced to work for their survival…