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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · 17h

A lack of security and protection is a major part of data workers’ lives.
Read/watch excerpts from our collaborators — Oskarina, Ranta, and Alexis — on this topic.

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Rafael M Batista @rafmbatista.bsky.social · 13d

Stories of data annotators and content moderators in Nairobi, Kenya

Documentary by @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social #AI

peertube.dair-institute.org/w/gRTuLGE6VJ...

Data Workers Organizing - The African Content Moderators Union

The formation of the African Content Moderators Union in 2023 marked a key step for workers advocating for better conditions. This documentary explores the issues faced by data workers at Sama in N...

peertube.dair-institute.org

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · 26d

The DWI team attended this year’s INDL-8 Conference! Laurenz and Camilla shared theoretical and methodological insights on Data Workers’ Inquiry, while our amazing collaborators Kauna and Ephantus led a powerful panel on workers organizing and unionizing. 💪

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Lorena Fernández Álvarez @loretahur.bsky.social · Sep 6

Contenta de que perfiles como el de @milamiceli.bsky.social sea reconocido como uno de los más influyentes en temas de IA time.com/collections/...

Su trabajo en @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social ha arrojado luz sobre condiciones laborales de personas que trabajan en la sombra de la IA,en lo NO mágico

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Weizenbaum-Institut @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social · 29d

Who is Really Fueling your #AI? Join us on September 17 to discuss precarization and resistance in #datawork, with the @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social, @milamiceli.bsky.social and @superrrnetwork.bsky.social. Don't miss your chance to meet some of the shadow workforce behind AI. buff.ly/dHMHXPV

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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.bsky.social · Aug 28

Richard Mathenge, Mophat Okinyi & Kauna Malgwi were on the TIME/100 list. Fasica Berhane's story won the True Story award. Joan Kinyua & others created the Data Labelers Association. Kauna is working on trauma-aware mental health intervention. See more at
www.dair-institute.org/projects/dat...

The Data Workers' Inquiry

The Data Workers' Inquiry is a global, radically participatory research initiative spanning nine countries across five continents.

www.dair-institute.org

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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.bsky.social · Aug 28

I thought the project was cool when Mila told me about the idea, but I didn’t understand how expansive it was going to be until I saw elements of the repository at data-workers.org. Just look at the diversity and quality of outputs: depth reports, animated shorts, documentaries, podcasts and more.

A black and white art showing a Black woman with an afro strapped on a chair and what looks like ghosts haunting her and surrounding her.

Screenshot of Kauna's inquir, "A Mental Health Intervention for Data Workers" with art showing a red silhouette in front of a screen.

Screenshot of the inquiry which says "If I Had Another job, I Would Not Accept Data Annotation Tasks". And another screenshot of a documentary titled "Annotate to Educate: The Dual life of a Syrian Student & Data Annotator"

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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.bsky.social · Aug 28

Mila is on the TIME 100/AI list because of her work on the Data Workers Inquiry project (@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social)

She was tired of writing *about* data workers, which is how one is supposed to conduct research in academia.

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Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Aug 28

Timnit believed in me and my vision even before I was able to put it in words. I’m incredibly grateful to @dairinstitute.bsky.social for giving @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social a home and to Timnit for her leadership, generosity, trust and support❤️

Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.bsky.social · Aug 28

🎉🎉🎉 Friends, I’m going to take ask a minute of your time to celebrate @milamiceli.bsky.social who I met through @alexhanna.bsky.social in 2022, just a couple of months after we launched @dairinstitute.bsky.social 🧵

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Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Aug 28

I am thrilled to be recognized by TIME as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide in the field of artificial intelligence for my work with @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social.

>> #TIME100AI time.com/time100ai

I want to take this opportunity to share a few reflections on this work 👇🧵

Portrait of Milagros Miceli in a frame that reads TIME100/AI 2025.

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 28

Huge congrats to @milamiceli.bsky.social 🌟

This is a recognition to all of us making the Data Workers’ Inquiry project!

Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Aug 28

En tiempos de cientificidio y oscurantismo en mi país, estoy orgullosa de ser la primera científica argentina reconocida por la revista TIME como una de las 100 personas más influyentes a nivel mundial en el campo de la inteligencia artificial.
time.com/collections/...

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 27

The event is in-person:

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵.
⏱️ 𝟭𝟳:𝟬𝟬 – 𝟭𝟵:𝟯𝟬
📍@weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social, Hardenbergstrasse 32, in Berlin.
🌐 R𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: www.weizenbaum-institut.de/news/detail/...

For those unable to attend, we'll be live-streaming here: www.youtube.com/live/jA3wSMe...

Who is Really Fueling your AI? Precarization and Resistance in Data Work.

Join us for an evening with the hidden workforce behind AI, get insights into how workers organize against its harsh realities and learn more about our research project The Data Workers’ Inquiry.

www.weizenbaum-institut.de

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 27

📣 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘!
We're excited to co-organize a transnational data worker assembly together with @superrrnetwork.bsky.social on September 16-17 in Berlin.
While the first day is closed-door, we’ll host a public event on the 17th.
👉 Program and registration: www.weizenbaum-institut.de/news/detail/...

Flyer on the public event:
Program:
Keynote by Dr. Milagros Miceli "AI is a lot of (data) work: on hidden labor, resistance, and academic solidarity"

Panel featuring four data workers: "the workers who make Ai possible"

17.09.2025, 17:00-19:30, Weizenbaum-Institut, Hardenbergstrasse 32, 10623 Berlin

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 27

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 27

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 27

Dependency and vulnerability are part of what data workers face every day.

Read quotes from our collaborators — Yasser, Ranta, Wilington, and Alexis — for a glimpse into what life is really like for data workers.

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Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Aug 22

🚨 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝗧𝗼𝗸 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲!
In a clear intimidation attempt, TikTok threatened to dismiss one of the organizers. Out of a team of more than 30 employees, it is precisely the worker who took part in the strike who is to be fired.

Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jul 28

TikTok management wants to lay off over 160 workers in Berlin as easily and cheaply as possible. After the first meeting of the conciliation committee, employees could be DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY.
www.heise.de/en/news/Berl...

Berlin: Tiktok-employees going on strike against massive job cuts

German Tiktok censors have trained an AI that is now taking their jobs. Verdi wants to talk, Tiktok doesn't. There was a warning strike on Wednesday.

www.heise.de

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 6

Don’t miss The Socially Conscious AI Podcast featuring @krystalkauffman.bsky.social as she dives into the realities of data workers and sheds light on the Data Workers’ Inquiry. Check it out! m.youtube.com/watch?v=WOhi...

The Hidden Human Cost of AI: Krystal Kauffman Reveals Data Labor Exploitation

YouTube video by The Socially Conscious AI Podcast

m.youtube.com

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Aug 6

Hey everyone!

We just made a list on here for fellow colleagues, data workers, researchers, and advocates:
📋 bsky.app/profile/did:...

Feel free to reply with names or handles you think should be included — we’ll keep updating it!

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Weizenbaum-Institut @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social · Jul 31

In Berlin will TikTok massenhaft Mitarbeitende durch eine KI ersetzen, doch die Beschäftigten wehren sich mit dem weltweit ersten Streik bei einem Social-Media-Konzern. Unsere Forscherin @milamiceli.bsky.social gab eine Einschätzung für @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social 👉 buff.ly/zfeZYDQ

TikTok-Beschäftigte zeigen, wie man sich gegen einen Tech-Giganten behauptet

In Berlin will TikTok massenhaft Mitarbeitende durch eine KI ersetzen – sollte der Konzern Erfolg haben, wird es Nachahmer geben. Doch die Beschäftigten wehren sich mit dem weltweit ersten Streik bei…

www.jacobin.de

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jul 28

We are joining the workers. Join them too!
📅 Today, July 28, 2025
🕐 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Regional Labor Court. Magdeburger Platz 1, 10785 Berlin

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jul 28

The first hearing will take place today at 1 PM at the Regional Labor Court in Berlin. TikTok employees will accompany the hearing with a strike and a protest rally outside the court.

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jul 28

TikTok management wants to lay off over 160 workers in Berlin as easily and cheaply as possible. After the first meeting of the conciliation committee, employees could be DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY.
www.heise.de/en/news/Berl...

Berlin: Tiktok-employees going on strike against massive job cuts

German Tiktok censors have trained an AI that is now taking their jobs. Verdi wants to talk, Tiktok doesn't. There was a warning strike on Wednesday.

www.heise.de

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jul 10

Today at the Point Sud 2025 conference on “Furthering Digital Sovereignty and Rights in Africa,” Dr. Adio-Adet Dinika presented “The Algorithmic Plantation: Digital Colonialism and Kenya’s AI Labor Force” at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), South Africa.

Adio-Adet Dinika presentig at the STIAS, South Africa

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