?? Delivery App Busted: Big Brother Meets Gig Economy

Foodinho's workplace surveillance got a €5 million reality check from Italy’s privacy watchdogs. ???♀?

?? WHY IT MATTERS:

This isn't just about one delivery company — it's a watershed moment exposing how tech platforms turn workers into trackable data commodities, stripping away basic privacy and human dignity in the process. ??

?? KEY POINTS:

? Glovo-owned Foodinho fined €5 million for massive rider data violations

? Tracked riders' locations even when NOT working, including app background time

? Used facial recognition for identity checks without proper consent

? Automated system blocked rider accounts with zero human review

? Sent personal data to third parties without rider knowledge

? Used opaque "excellence scoring" to prioritize work shifts

??? THE BIG PICTURE:

This case represents a critical moment in digital labor regulation, highlighting the growing tension between tech platforms' algorithmic management and worker privacy rights. It signals a global reckoning for gig economy companies treating workers like data points instead of humans.

?? THE BOTTOM LINE:

Tech companies can no longer treat worker data as their personal playground. Privacy isn't a luxury—it's a fundamental right, even for app-based delivery riders. The message is clear: respect workers or pay massive fines. ??

?? WHAT’S NEXT

? More stringent EU review and enforcement on digital platform labor practices

? Increased legal scrutiny of algorithmic workplace management

? Potential global ripple effects for gig economy business models

? Development of worker-centric data protection frameworks

??♀? GO DEEPER

Press release by the Italian Data Protection Authority (the Garante)