An excerpt from The Privacy Center at Georgetown Law’s new ‘zine Whole Worker Surveillance
by Orly Keiner, TPSS Board President
On Labor Day, Georgetown University’s Center on Privacy and Technology published some disturbing research on the growing use of surveillance technology to control workers at Whole Foods Market. Their findings are laid out in a very readable and compelling comic book/zine, which they called “Whole Worker Surveillance.”
In the research, Georgetown describes Whole Foods workers being forced to use AI-based programs that constantly monitor them and demand ever faster work. This has led to growing risks of workplace injury as well as a sense of meaninglessness and isolation. It also denies them the free minutes needed to form friendly relationships with their colleagues – preventing the human connections that are the basis of worker advocacy, solidarity, and of course, unionization.
In some ways, it was unsurprising. Since being acquired by Amazon, Whole Foods subjecting its employees to dehumanizing micromanagement by AI- algorithms has seemed inevitable. But the idea of a once-idealistic natural foods store embracing such unnatural practices is still jarring.
TPSS’ General Manager Mike Houston saw this coming when he wrote about how co-ops should resist the temptation of AI-driven efficiencies back in March. “Whole Worker Surveillance” shows that the concerns he raised are not theoretical for the grocery industry – an AI-driven efficiency dystopia is now a daily reality for some grocery workers in our community.
TPSS Co-op stands in categorical opposition to such practices. Guided by a set of values that prioritize people and the planet, our co-op is a community, a gathering place for humans who want to eat healthy, organic, local foods. We want our staff to have autonomy, think creatively, build more connections, have more conversations, know each other and our member-owners deeply. As a proud union workplace, we believe our staff deserves dignity, trust, and respect. Every dollar you spend at TPSS Co-op supports this vision.
As I hope everyone knows by now, TPSS is looking to open a second store and bring the co-op model to a new community. We hope that all member owners who agree that the world needs more co-ops and less “Whole Worker Surveillance” will find reason to invest in our ongoing capital campaign. Help us show the world that a different, human-centered way of doing business is possible.