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Abstract

This article studies the tension between autonomy and automation as it is experienced by Syrian refugee food-delivery drivers who work on the Toters app in Beirut, Lebanon. Central to this study are the freedom narratives these drivers construct, which reflect their ambivalent relationship with digital labor platforms. These narratives highlight how the algorithmic nature of the Toters app provides opportunities for self-employment and flexible work, crucial for refugees facing employment barriers and limited physical and social mobility in Lebanon. However, in these narratives, the drivers’ sense of autonomy is also often compromised by the app’s increasing automation, which imposes surveillance and control. Within this context, the article focuses on Syrian Toters drivers’ mapping practices, contrasting the app’s automated navigational systems with the drivers’ own mental maps, which are rich with social and geographic knowledge. This tension is a key theme in their freedom narratives, as drivers assert their autonomy by using these personal maps to navigate the city more effectively and safely. The article argues that these narratives of autonomy and control are essential to understanding the lived experiences of refugee workers on digital platforms. It emphasizes the significance of human agency and the broader social context in the era of big data and artificial intelligence, revealing the complex interplay between freedom and automation in the digital labor market.

DOI

10.30658/hmc.9.8

Author ORCID Identifier

Blake Atwood: 0000-0002-7794-2958

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