Workers denied bathroom breaks as Amazon surveillance becomes big stepbrother
Amazon is using surveillance not to protect its workers who face the daily threat of being robbed. Rather Amazon wants to protect its bottom dollar, despite former CEO jeff Bezos being the richest man in the world. Recently we wrote about the paradox about cameras not protecting people after the security camera company Verkada was hacked. Now the drivers are being micromanaged through their motion detection. Meet your new big stepbrother, Amazon.
We all know it’s only a matter of time before the drivers are fired and automation takes over at amazon. Amazon already has so much stock in the daily lives of its customers. Whether you shop at whole foods, watch amazon prime, or order online you are using their services. Therefore what is the likelihood of a customer boycott when they provide a variety of services that is being used?
Recently an amazon driver confessed to having to pee in water bottles to avoid disciplinary action. All because of amazon’s motion detector. Delivering the item at a certain time and scanning it isn’t enough data apparently. Are amazon customers complaining about lack of delivery accuracy or coming late? This is clearly an example of how A.I. is being leveraged against us, but marketed as leverage to help us.
Amazon is the leader in providing our material consumption needs or it at least aims to be. Mindful consumption and minimal frugal living are a way to combat this consumption obsession in our society. Amazon drivers have 30 seconds to deliver their products and complete about 400 deliveries per 10-hour shift. Public relations marketing is selling safety as the main reason for biometric measuring and camera surveillance.
In a statement to Inside, Amazon spokesperson Deborah Bass said, “We piloted the technology from April to October 2020 on over two million miles of delivery routes and the results produced remarkable driver and community safety improvements—accidents decreased 48 percent, stop sign violations decreased 20 percent, driving without a seatbelt decreased 60 percent, and distracted driving decreased 45 percent. Don’t believe the self-interested critics who claim these cameras are intended for anything other than safety.”
Business insider
It’s important to note that workers were fired if they refuse to sign the biometric consent form.
Amazon seems to care more about the delivery of their products than the safety of their drivers. Sure accidents and driving safeties are priorities. But Amazon drivers are sitting ducks for those looking for an easy come-up. Drivers are under the constant threat of being robbed and make deliveries at night time.
Our inability to control our need to consume creates a paradox for Amazon delivery drivers. The more products they have to deliver the tighter the micromanaging will become. The majority of people who read these articles will feel sympathy for the drivers but will they dial back on their consumption?. Maybe making list ahead of time will help the number of deliveries. Also committing to no more than one delivery per week can help as well.
In conclusion, mass surveillance will always be marketed as safety and people will buy into it, no pun. After all who doesn’t want to feel safe? However, being mindful of our impact on even the smallest of things can make a difference. Just like a slick seducer, Amazon has already lowered our defenses and made its way into our homes. We have like bias and enjoy the entertainment Amazon provides. Sadly this is just the beginning of our acceptance of totalitarian surveillance to feed our superficial consumption.
How often do you think we should use amazon to help the drivers?