Turkopticon
@turkopticon.bsky.social
Data worker advocacy group fighting for better treatment on all platforms.
Our organizers on Bluesky:
@kristap.bsky.social
@brookh.bsky.social
Our organizers on Bluesky:
@kristap.bsky.social
@brookh.bsky.social
Our very own @brookh.bsky.social weighs in on this episode of the @kimkomando.bsky.social show!
AI side hustles: what you need to know
AI side hustles: what you need to know
AI side hustles: what you need to know
Open/download audio Want to make money with AI (but can’t code)? A 20-year expert reveals the real jobs: training chatbots and moderating ads. Plus, the OpenAI vs. NYT showdown, a chart-topping AI country song, and the ClickFix scam.
www.komando.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Our very own @brookh.bsky.social weighs in on this episode of the @kimkomando.bsky.social show!
AI side hustles: what you need to know
AI side hustles: what you need to know
Reposted by Turkopticon
Represented @turkopticon.bsky.social with @kristap.bsky.social & @autobotcoop.bsky.social at #CircuitBreakers2025, talking about the real-world challenges of worker-run organizing & how much we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way).
Organizing is tough, but community and honesty make it possible.
Organizing is tough, but community and honesty make it possible.
October 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Represented @turkopticon.bsky.social with @kristap.bsky.social & @autobotcoop.bsky.social at #CircuitBreakers2025, talking about the real-world challenges of worker-run organizing & how much we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way).
Organizing is tough, but community and honesty make it possible.
Organizing is tough, but community and honesty make it possible.
Reposted by Turkopticon
What if you had a job that was paid hourly, but between tasks, you just had to wait online, unpaid, yet ready to go at any moment?
This is the reality for many of the people in the U.S. who train AI for multibillion-dollar companies.
@kristap.bsky.social
This is the reality for many of the people in the U.S. who train AI for multibillion-dollar companies.
@kristap.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
What if you had a job that was paid hourly, but between tasks, you just had to wait online, unpaid, yet ready to go at any moment?
This is the reality for many of the people in the U.S. who train AI for multibillion-dollar companies.
@kristap.bsky.social
This is the reality for many of the people in the U.S. who train AI for multibillion-dollar companies.
@kristap.bsky.social
Reposted by Turkopticon
Despite making critical contributions to the booming AI industry, data workers often report that they aren’t treated like the skilled, valuable workers that they are.
So, from @alphabetworkersunion.org to @turkopticon.bsky.social, data workers are organizing for better pay and working conditions.
So, from @alphabetworkersunion.org to @turkopticon.bsky.social, data workers are organizing for better pay and working conditions.
October 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Despite making critical contributions to the booming AI industry, data workers often report that they aren’t treated like the skilled, valuable workers that they are.
So, from @alphabetworkersunion.org to @turkopticon.bsky.social, data workers are organizing for better pay and working conditions.
So, from @alphabetworkersunion.org to @turkopticon.bsky.social, data workers are organizing for better pay and working conditions.
Reposted by Turkopticon
Microsoft cancels Israeli spy unit access after tech worker revolt
In a stunning and massive development, tech giant Microsoft has announced that it is terminating parts of the Israeli military’s access to proprietary technology that it was using to conduct mass surveillance and targeting of Pale
In a stunning and massive development, tech giant Microsoft has announced that it is terminating parts of the Israeli military’s access to proprietary technology that it was using to conduct mass surveillance and targeting of Pale
Microsoft cancels Israeli spy unit access after tech worker revolt
In a stunning and massive development, tech giant Microsoft has announced that it is terminating parts of the Israeli military’s access to proprietary technology that it was using to conduct mass surveillance and targeting of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. “Microsoft told Israeli officials late last week that Unit 8200, the military’s elite spy agency, had violated the company’s terms of service by storing the vast trove of surveillance data in its Azure cloud platform,” the Guardian reports. “The termination is the first known case of a US technology company withdrawing services provided to the Israeli military since the beginning of its war on Gaza.” This major development would not have happened without the joint-investigative work of reporters at The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call exposing Microsoft’s complicity with Unit 8200’s mass-surveillance campaign, but it also would not have happened without the disruptive protests by tech workers within Microsoft. In this panel discussion, we speak with three fired Microsoft tech workers and members of the “No Azure for Apartheid” campaign—Nisreen Jaradat, Julius Shan, and Anna Hattle—about the role workers have played in pressuring Microsoft to end its complicity in Israel’s war crimes. Additional Links/Info: No Azure for Apartheid Instagram and Linktree Maximillian Alvarez, The Nation, “How Microsoft workers helped halt a major contract with the Israeli military” Harry Davies & Yuval Abraham, The Guardian, “Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians” Maximillian Alvarez, Working People / The Real News Network, “The biggest labor story in the US right now is happening at Microsoft” Maximillian Alvarez, Working People / The Real News Network, “‘Microsoft is an active partner in the genocide!’: Inside the tech worker revolt for Palestine” Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “Cops violently dismantle Palestine encampment at Microsoft HQ, arrest protestors” Harry Davies & Yuval Abraham, The Guardian, “‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians” Credits: Studio Production: David Hebden Audio Post-Production: Jules Taylor
workingpeople.libsyn.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Microsoft cancels Israeli spy unit access after tech worker revolt
In a stunning and massive development, tech giant Microsoft has announced that it is terminating parts of the Israeli military’s access to proprietary technology that it was using to conduct mass surveillance and targeting of Pale
In a stunning and massive development, tech giant Microsoft has announced that it is terminating parts of the Israeli military’s access to proprietary technology that it was using to conduct mass surveillance and targeting of Pale
Reposted by Turkopticon
1/ It’s time to get real about Amazon and AI. Amazon coworkers: sign our open letter below to tell Amazon leadership that we need a more responsible rollout of AI. Everyone else: Send our letter to anyone who works at Amazon or even in the tech industry.
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
Open Letter — AECJ
www.amazonclimatejustice.org
September 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
1/ It’s time to get real about Amazon and AI. Amazon coworkers: sign our open letter below to tell Amazon leadership that we need a more responsible rollout of AI. Everyone else: Send our letter to anyone who works at Amazon or even in the tech industry.
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
www.amazonclimatejustice.org/open-letter?...
Reposted by Turkopticon
The future of AI is being built on the backs of underpaid workers with no protections. I shared my story in this new report because silence keeps us invisible. #HumansMakeAI #DataWorkersUnite #InvisibleLabor
NEW RESEARCH ALERT 🚨
Tech giants are making massive investments in generative AI, integrating it into their existing products and selling access to the foundational models to others.
But all that money and power isn’t making its way down to the people who make AI actually work: data workers.
Tech giants are making massive investments in generative AI, integrating it into their existing products and selling access to the foundational models to others.
But all that money and power isn’t making its way down to the people who make AI actually work: data workers.
October 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The future of AI is being built on the backs of underpaid workers with no protections. I shared my story in this new report because silence keeps us invisible. #HumansMakeAI #DataWorkersUnite #InvisibleLabor
You can sit at your computer all day waiting for work, unpaid. That’s the hidden cost of keeping AI running.
The rising tide of AI is not lifting all boats.
In fact, 86% of the U.S. data workers behind AI worry about meeting their financial responsibilities, according to a new survey by @alphabetworkersunion.org and TechEquity.
In fact, 86% of the U.S. data workers behind AI worry about meeting their financial responsibilities, according to a new survey by @alphabetworkersunion.org and TechEquity.
October 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
You can sit at your computer all day waiting for work, unpaid. That’s the hidden cost of keeping AI running.
An excellent report on the often overlooked US dataworker
Thank you @techequity.bsky.social, @alphabetworkersunion.org and @cwaunion.bsky.social for giving them a voice.
Thank you @techequity.bsky.social, @alphabetworkersunion.org and @cwaunion.bsky.social for giving them a voice.
NEW RESEARCH ALERT 🚨
Tech giants are making massive investments in generative AI, integrating it into their existing products and selling access to the foundational models to others.
But all that money and power isn’t making its way down to the people who make AI actually work: data workers.
Tech giants are making massive investments in generative AI, integrating it into their existing products and selling access to the foundational models to others.
But all that money and power isn’t making its way down to the people who make AI actually work: data workers.
September 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
An excellent report on the often overlooked US dataworker
Thank you @techequity.bsky.social, @alphabetworkersunion.org and @cwaunion.bsky.social for giving them a voice.
Thank you @techequity.bsky.social, @alphabetworkersunion.org and @cwaunion.bsky.social for giving them a voice.
We are so excited to welcome Brook Hansen back to Turkopticon! She brings expertise on platforms like Appen, Outlier, DataAnnotation, Mturk, Prolific, and Click Worker. She will help us reach more workers and we are grateful she's decided to come back to us.
July 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
We are so excited to welcome Brook Hansen back to Turkopticon! She brings expertise on platforms like Appen, Outlier, DataAnnotation, Mturk, Prolific, and Click Worker. She will help us reach more workers and we are grateful she's decided to come back to us.
Did you know that Turkopticon is worker-run? When we say worker, this is what we mean 👇 Here is organizer Krista Pawloski with over one million hits on Amazon Mechanical Turk. She's still out there in the trenches with #dataworkers everywhere.
July 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Did you know that Turkopticon is worker-run? When we say worker, this is what we mean 👇 Here is organizer Krista Pawloski with over one million hits on Amazon Mechanical Turk. She's still out there in the trenches with #dataworkers everywhere.
Reposted by Turkopticon
When workplaces are considering deploying new technology, how often are the workers themselves part of the process?
Not often enough, despite them being best positioned to advocate for a different and more inclusive approach to tech design, based on their unique expertise.
Not often enough, despite them being best positioned to advocate for a different and more inclusive approach to tech design, based on their unique expertise.
July 16, 2025 at 5:32 PM
When workplaces are considering deploying new technology, how often are the workers themselves part of the process?
Not often enough, despite them being best positioned to advocate for a different and more inclusive approach to tech design, based on their unique expertise.
Not often enough, despite them being best positioned to advocate for a different and more inclusive approach to tech design, based on their unique expertise.
Reposted by Turkopticon
For years, Prime Day has exacerbated worker injuries.
Instead of cutting back, Amazon doubled the number of Prime Days this month.
One warehouse worker told us, “I’m tired of there being an ambulance at my job site almost every night."
Instead of cutting back, Amazon doubled the number of Prime Days this month.
One warehouse worker told us, “I’m tired of there being an ambulance at my job site almost every night."
You Need to Know This About Prime Day Deals
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
youtube.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
For years, Prime Day has exacerbated worker injuries.
Instead of cutting back, Amazon doubled the number of Prime Days this month.
One warehouse worker told us, “I’m tired of there being an ambulance at my job site almost every night."
Instead of cutting back, Amazon doubled the number of Prime Days this month.
One warehouse worker told us, “I’m tired of there being an ambulance at my job site almost every night."
Tech Organizers! Circuit Breakers will be in NYC this year. Oct 18-19. You have until the end of the month to submit a proposal for a session. They are looking for rank and file workers trying to organize.
Hope to see you there!
techworkerscoalition...
Hope to see you there!
techworkerscoalition...
Circuit Breakers -- A Conference for Workers Organizing in Tech
Circuit Breakers is a conference for organizers and activists in the tech industry to come together and learn, build community, strategize, and recognize our collective power. It will be held October 18-19, 2025, in New York City.
techworkerscoalition.org
July 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Tech Organizers! Circuit Breakers will be in NYC this year. Oct 18-19. You have until the end of the month to submit a proposal for a session. They are looking for rank and file workers trying to organize.
Hope to see you there!
techworkerscoalition...
Hope to see you there!
techworkerscoalition...
Reposted by Turkopticon
Circuit Breakers 2025 is now accepting submissions (by July 31st) for workshops, panels, talks, and everything in between!
Learn more at bit.ly/circuitbreakers2025 💥
#labororganizing #techworkers
Learn more at bit.ly/circuitbreakers2025 💥
#labororganizing #techworkers
July 11, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Circuit Breakers 2025 is now accepting submissions (by July 31st) for workshops, panels, talks, and everything in between!
Learn more at bit.ly/circuitbreakers2025 💥
#labororganizing #techworkers
Learn more at bit.ly/circuitbreakers2025 💥
#labororganizing #techworkers
👀 Former Turkopticon colleagues, Krystal Kauffman & Alexis Chávez have been up to some research, advancing academia and awareness ✨
Data workers love to see research that supports our fight.
Congrats on your research publication.
www.weizenbaum-insti...
Data workers love to see research that supports our fight.
Congrats on your research publication.
www.weizenbaum-insti...
July 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
👀 Former Turkopticon colleagues, Krystal Kauffman & Alexis Chávez have been up to some research, advancing academia and awareness ✨
Data workers love to see research that supports our fight.
Congrats on your research publication.
www.weizenbaum-insti...
Data workers love to see research that supports our fight.
Congrats on your research publication.
www.weizenbaum-insti...
When we've collected all of our data, we will share our findings. If you'd like to make sure you are on that list, sign up for our newsletter blog.turkopticon.net?page_id=3969
June 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
When we've collected all of our data, we will share our findings. If you'd like to make sure you are on that list, sign up for our newsletter blog.turkopticon.net?page_id=3969
Reposted by Turkopticon
Major decision out of the Northern District of California. AI training on copyrighted material is fair use under the copyright act. This will have major implications for the AI industry and artists having their work stolen by AI companies.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Major decision out of the Northern District of California. AI training on copyrighted material is fair use under the copyright act. This will have major implications for the AI industry and artists having their work stolen by AI companies.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Look at what we have for you!
Workers, keep your eye out on Mturk and Prolific. We are issuing surveys in small batches at different times to cast a wide net and make sure we are capturing the voice of all workers.
#datawork
Workers, keep your eye out on Mturk and Prolific. We are issuing surveys in small batches at different times to cast a wide net and make sure we are capturing the voice of all workers.
#datawork
June 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Look at what we have for you!
Workers, keep your eye out on Mturk and Prolific. We are issuing surveys in small batches at different times to cast a wide net and make sure we are capturing the voice of all workers.
#datawork
Workers, keep your eye out on Mturk and Prolific. We are issuing surveys in small batches at different times to cast a wide net and make sure we are capturing the voice of all workers.
#datawork
Reposted by Turkopticon
All around the world, tech companies in the AI industry are powered by workers who develop, train, test, and maintain AI systems.
But these workers are hidden away behind virtual marketplaces and labyrinthine supply chains.
But these workers are hidden away behind virtual marketplaces and labyrinthine supply chains.
June 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
All around the world, tech companies in the AI industry are powered by workers who develop, train, test, and maintain AI systems.
But these workers are hidden away behind virtual marketplaces and labyrinthine supply chains.
But these workers are hidden away behind virtual marketplaces and labyrinthine supply chains.
One of our organizers having a conversation with Angeline Corvaglia from Digital Dominoes about the work that goes into your AI
Hear me talk about work as an invisible data worker with Angeline Corvaglia player.captivate.fm/episode/d2e6...
Behind the AI Curtain: A US Data Labeler's Journey Since 2008
Quickly and easily listen to Digital Dominoes for free!
player.captivate.fm
May 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
One of our organizers having a conversation with Angeline Corvaglia from Digital Dominoes about the work that goes into your AI
Hear dataworker @brookh.bsky.social talk about what this work means to her.
www.businessinsider.com/data-worker-...
www.businessinsider.com/data-worker-...
I have a side hustle training AI and reviewing online ads. Some tasks are random, but as a mom, I love the flexibility.
Mom Brook Hansen told BI she's worked on tasks such as chatbot training, ad reviews and voice recordings as a freelance data worker.
www.businessinsider.com
May 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Hear dataworker @brookh.bsky.social talk about what this work means to her.
www.businessinsider.com/data-worker-...
www.businessinsider.com/data-worker-...
Reposted by Turkopticon
NEW: At least 10 states lose more than $100 million per year in tax revenue to data centers. The loss of revenue is surely worse than we can yet document — of the 32 states with data center tax incentives, 12 fail to disclose even *aggregate* revenue losses.
👇🏾
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-with-...
👇🏾
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-with-...
Cloudy with a Loss of Spending Control: How Data Centers Are Endangering State Budgets - Good Jobs First
Cloudy with a Loss of Spending Control: How Data Centers Are Endangering State Budgets - Good Jobs First
goodjobsfirst.org
April 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
NEW: At least 10 states lose more than $100 million per year in tax revenue to data centers. The loss of revenue is surely worse than we can yet document — of the 32 states with data center tax incentives, 12 fail to disclose even *aggregate* revenue losses.
👇🏾
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-with-...
👇🏾
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-with-...
Reposted by Turkopticon
China’s AI industry depends on exploitation of vocational school students who work as data annotators for low pay with few prospects. restofworld.org/2023/china-a...
China’s AI boom depends on an army of exploited student interns
As part of China’s digital underclass, vocational school students work as data annotators — for low pay and few future prospects.
restofworld.org
April 18, 2025 at 8:40 AM
China’s AI industry depends on exploitation of vocational school students who work as data annotators for low pay with few prospects. restofworld.org/2023/china-a...
Reposted by Turkopticon
BREAKING: The National Treasury Employees Union, representing 150,000 workers, is suing Trump over his executive order to end collective bargaining rights for federal workers.
March 31, 2025 at 6:47 PM
BREAKING: The National Treasury Employees Union, representing 150,000 workers, is suing Trump over his executive order to end collective bargaining rights for federal workers.