Control mechanisms of Uber platform over its associate drivers in the Metropolitan Region of Chile

Abstract

This article discusses the main control mechanisms implemented by Uber platform in the labour process of its associated drivers in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The information was gleaned from 12 interviews with Uber drivers residing in the Metropolitan Region between September 2019 and February 2020. It was analyzed through qualitative content analysis with Atlas ti7 software. The analytical framework was mainly taken from the labour process theory; current discussions about new forms of control, developed especifically in the context of digital platforms, were incorporated. The main results show a combination between persistent control elements over time and novel elements incorporated in recent years, specifically through a more efficient introduction of old control methods thanks to new technologies, making both new and old forms of control more instantaneous, opaque and comprehensive. However, there is a predominance of those control mechanisms associated to algorithmic control and the strategy of responsible autonomy.