In May 2023, Gig Workers Rising, PowerSwitch Action, and the Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE) released a report documenting a rise in the number of killings of app-based workers while on the job. The report highlights an escalating safety crisis for app-based workers disproportionately impacting people of colour and immigrants. This research follows a report released by the authors in 2022 documenting over 50 app-based workers killed between 2017 and 2022. According to their research, in 2022 at least 31 app-based workers were killed while on the job, of which 77% identified as people of colour. The authors note the actual number may be higher as companies are not required to report instances of violence against their workers. The report states that working conditions for app-based workers often encourages them to continue working even when they feel unsafe. The authors called on DoorDash, Lyft and Uber to ensure safety protections for workers, including by providing accountability mechanisms, transparency, fair wages, and deactivation protections.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reached out to DoorDash, Lyft and Uber to respond; all three companies responded. Gig Workers Rising, PowerSwitch Action, and ACRE provided a rejoinder to their responses. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre followed-up with DoorDash, Lyft and Uber for a response to the rejoinder; they did not respond. All responses and rejoinders are linked in the story below.