Mark Graham
@geoplace.bsky.social
Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute
Director of @towardsfairwork.bsky.social
Publications: www.markgraham.space
Studies: Digital Economies, Digital Geographies, Economic Geography, Gig Economy, Data Work, AI Production Networks, Cities
Director of @towardsfairwork.bsky.social
Publications: www.markgraham.space
Studies: Digital Economies, Digital Geographies, Economic Geography, Gig Economy, Data Work, AI Production Networks, Cities
Reposted by Mark Graham
ICYMI: New interview with @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social speaking to German newspaper Der Freitag about the hidden human cost of the AI revolution. www.freitag.de/autoren/der-...
„Die Arbeitsbedingungen sind brutal“: Über die geheimen Malocher hinter ChatGPT
Hinter jedem KI-Bild steckt Handarbeit: Menschen in Kenia, Indien oder auf den Philippinen schuften stundenlang für Hungerlöhne, um Maschinen klüger zu machen. Im Gespräch enthüllt Mark Graham die uns...
www.freitag.de
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM
ICYMI: New interview with @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social speaking to German newspaper Der Freitag about the hidden human cost of the AI revolution. www.freitag.de/autoren/der-...
Reposted by Mark Graham
KI klingt nach Zukunft – aber sie lebt von menschlicher, unsichtbarer Arbeit. Ich habe für @freitag.de mit @geoplace.bsky.social über sein Buch „Feeding the Machine“ gesprochen – und darüber, was KI wirklich kostet. Leseempfehlung für alle, die hinter die Kulissen der "KI-Unternehmen" schauen wollen
„Die Arbeitsbedingungen sind brutal“: Über die geheimen Malocher hinter ChatGPT
Hinter jedem KI-Bild steckt Handarbeit: Menschen in Kenia, Indien oder auf den Philippinen schuften stundenlang für Hungerlöhne, um Maschinen klüger zu machen. Im Gespräch enthüllt Mark Graham die uns...
www.freitag.de
November 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM
KI klingt nach Zukunft – aber sie lebt von menschlicher, unsichtbarer Arbeit. Ich habe für @freitag.de mit @geoplace.bsky.social über sein Buch „Feeding the Machine“ gesprochen – und darüber, was KI wirklich kostet. Leseempfehlung für alle, die hinter die Kulissen der "KI-Unternehmen" schauen wollen
I’ve got a new chapter out with Adam Badger, Alessio Bertolini, Fabian Ferrari & Funda Ustek Spilda in the forthcoming Handbook of Labour Geography. In it, we unpack the Fairwork action-research method.
Read: www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/b...
Read: www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/b...
www.elgaronline.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I’ve got a new chapter out with Adam Badger, Alessio Bertolini, Fabian Ferrari & Funda Ustek Spilda in the forthcoming Handbook of Labour Geography. In it, we unpack the Fairwork action-research method.
Read: www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/b...
Read: www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/b...
Reposted by Mark Graham
We see only the polished face of AI- but behind it lies a web of people, data & decisions shaping who gains & who’s left behind. Join @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk to explore fairer AI
📅 29 Oct 📍Museum of Oxford 🔗 www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/unveiling-th... #ESRCFestival
📅 29 Oct 📍Museum of Oxford 🔗 www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/unveiling-th... #ESRCFestival
Unveiling the human behind AI: A Rubik's cube journey to Fair Work
29 October, late morning - 4pm, Museum of Oxford
www.socsci.ox.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
We see only the polished face of AI- but behind it lies a web of people, data & decisions shaping who gains & who’s left behind. Join @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk to explore fairer AI
📅 29 Oct 📍Museum of Oxford 🔗 www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/unveiling-th... #ESRCFestival
📅 29 Oct 📍Museum of Oxford 🔗 www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/unveiling-th... #ESRCFestival
Friends and colleagues in Oxford, join us for this event at the end of the month.
festivalofsocialscience.com/events/unvei...
festivalofsocialscience.com/events/unvei...
October 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Friends and colleagues in Oxford, join us for this event at the end of the month.
festivalofsocialscience.com/events/unvei...
festivalofsocialscience.com/events/unvei...
Reposted by Mark Graham
📢Book your free spot at our first seminar of term!
Join Prof Mark Graham @oii.ox.ac.uk for: “The hidden human labour powering AI: Introducing the Fairwork Action Research Project”
🗓16 October 4pm
📍In-person & online
Register now: talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/760...
@geoplace.bsky.social
Join Prof Mark Graham @oii.ox.ac.uk for: “The hidden human labour powering AI: Introducing the Fairwork Action Research Project”
🗓16 October 4pm
📍In-person & online
Register now: talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/760...
@geoplace.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
📢Book your free spot at our first seminar of term!
Join Prof Mark Graham @oii.ox.ac.uk for: “The hidden human labour powering AI: Introducing the Fairwork Action Research Project”
🗓16 October 4pm
📍In-person & online
Register now: talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/760...
@geoplace.bsky.social
Join Prof Mark Graham @oii.ox.ac.uk for: “The hidden human labour powering AI: Introducing the Fairwork Action Research Project”
🗓16 October 4pm
📍In-person & online
Register now: talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/760...
@geoplace.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Graham
Call for Papers: Locating Power & Resistance in Global AI Production Networks
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
Call for Papers: Locating Power and Resistance Within Global AI Production Networks
American Association of Geographers (AAG) 2026 Annual Meeting
fair.work
September 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Call for Papers: Locating Power & Resistance in Global AI Production Networks
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
Call for Papers: Locating Power & Resistance in Global AI Production Networks
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
Call for Papers: Locating Power and Resistance Within Global AI Production Networks
American Association of Geographers (AAG) 2026 Annual Meeting
fair.work
September 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Call for Papers: Locating Power & Resistance in Global AI Production Networks
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
AAG 2026 Annual Meeting
AI is not just “in the cloud.” It relies on global supply chains, with power concentrated in a few countries and corporations.
fair.work/en/fw/blog/c...
#AAG2026
AI often looks smooth and solved, like a Rubik’s cube. But turn it in your hands and each side reveals something hidden.
September 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
AI often looks smooth and solved, like a Rubik’s cube. But turn it in your hands and each side reveals something hidden.
Reposted by Mark Graham
"[We need to] understand that when we use these products and services, we're not just interacting with a machine. We're interacting with many, many real people of flesh and blood, who often work under terrible conditions." - Prof. Mark Graham @geoplace.bsky.social
globalnyt.dk/professor-ka...
globalnyt.dk/professor-ka...
Professor kalder dem for digitale sweatshops: Techgiganternes usynlige arbejdskraft holder internettet sikkert | Globalnyt
Mark Graham husker dengang for godt 16 år siden, da fiberkabler blev gravet ned på tværs af Østafrika og forbandt regionen med resten af verden på en helt n ...
globalnyt.dk
August 14, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"[We need to] understand that when we use these products and services, we're not just interacting with a machine. We're interacting with many, many real people of flesh and blood, who often work under terrible conditions." - Prof. Mark Graham @geoplace.bsky.social
globalnyt.dk/professor-ka...
globalnyt.dk/professor-ka...
Discover our latest article, “Planetary Sex Markets,” now published in Porn Studies. It draws on research led by the brilliant Robbie Warin and Chloe Gott.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
August 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Discover our latest article, “Planetary Sex Markets,” now published in Porn Studies. It draws on research led by the brilliant Robbie Warin and Chloe Gott.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The new @oecd-ocde.bsky.social Fairwork AI Ratings report shows who powers AI and how Humans in the Loop earned a 6/10 score after 14 policy changes.
@towardsfairwork.bsky.social now offers certification so buyers can demand higher standards across AI supply chains.
wp.oecd.ai/app/uploads/...
@towardsfairwork.bsky.social now offers certification so buyers can demand higher standards across AI supply chains.
wp.oecd.ai/app/uploads/...
wp.oecd.ai
July 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The new @oecd-ocde.bsky.social Fairwork AI Ratings report shows who powers AI and how Humans in the Loop earned a 6/10 score after 14 policy changes.
@towardsfairwork.bsky.social now offers certification so buyers can demand higher standards across AI supply chains.
wp.oecd.ai/app/uploads/...
@towardsfairwork.bsky.social now offers certification so buyers can demand higher standards across AI supply chains.
wp.oecd.ai/app/uploads/...
New article out in Frontiers in Communication by me, @jonasvalente.bsky.social & @oguzalyanak.bsky.social:
"Reflection AI: Feeding the Machine – The Hidden Labour Behind AI Tools and Ethical Implications for Higher Education"
It confronts the human cost behind the AI systems now flooding education.
"Reflection AI: Feeding the Machine – The Hidden Labour Behind AI Tools and Ethical Implications for Higher Education"
It confronts the human cost behind the AI systems now flooding education.
July 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
New article out in Frontiers in Communication by me, @jonasvalente.bsky.social & @oguzalyanak.bsky.social:
"Reflection AI: Feeding the Machine – The Hidden Labour Behind AI Tools and Ethical Implications for Higher Education"
It confronts the human cost behind the AI systems now flooding education.
"Reflection AI: Feeding the Machine – The Hidden Labour Behind AI Tools and Ethical Implications for Higher Education"
It confronts the human cost behind the AI systems now flooding education.
Reposted by Mark Graham
Interesting piece by @economist.com discussing how outsourcing could revolutionize Africa’s economy, with expert commentary from @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk on implications for Africa's workers. More here: www.economist.com/middle-east-... #outsourcing #Africa
Call centres could be a gold mine for Africa
Forget factories. There is a better answer to the continent’s jobs crisis
www.economist.com
July 1, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Interesting piece by @economist.com discussing how outsourcing could revolutionize Africa’s economy, with expert commentary from @geoplace.bsky.social @towardsfairwork.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk on implications for Africa's workers. More here: www.economist.com/middle-east-... #outsourcing #Africa
Check out our new paper in the Industrial Law Journal: Fair Work for Platform Workers: Lessons from the EU Directive and Beyond
New paper alert! Latest work from @towardsfairwork.bsky.social researchers analyses the implications of the Platform Work Directive and suggests ways forward for the proposed ILO Convention. Read their paper: bit.ly/4nGs5LY 1/2
Fair Work for Platform Workers: Lessons from the EU Directive and Beyond
The adoption of an EU Directive on Platform Work in March 2024 signals a crucial acknowledgement of the need for legal regulation of a burgeoning form of w
bit.ly
June 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Check out our new paper in the Industrial Law Journal: Fair Work for Platform Workers: Lessons from the EU Directive and Beyond
Reposted by Mark Graham
Lead author: Sandra Fredman, Co-authors: @Darcy Du Toit, Alessio Bertolini, @jonasvalente.bsky.social and @geoplace.bsky.social. Find out more about the Fair Digital Economies research project at the @oii.ox.ac.uk: bit.ly/3TihU28 .
OII | Fair Digital Economies
Investigating and addressing the systemic inequities embedded in digitally mediated labour and economic systems.
bit.ly
June 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Lead author: Sandra Fredman, Co-authors: @Darcy Du Toit, Alessio Bertolini, @jonasvalente.bsky.social and @geoplace.bsky.social. Find out more about the Fair Digital Economies research project at the @oii.ox.ac.uk: bit.ly/3TihU28 .
Reposted by Mark Graham
New paper alert! Latest work from @towardsfairwork.bsky.social researchers analyses the implications of the Platform Work Directive and suggests ways forward for the proposed ILO Convention. Read their paper: bit.ly/4nGs5LY 1/2
Fair Work for Platform Workers: Lessons from the EU Directive and Beyond
The adoption of an EU Directive on Platform Work in March 2024 signals a crucial acknowledgement of the need for legal regulation of a burgeoning form of w
bit.ly
June 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
New paper alert! Latest work from @towardsfairwork.bsky.social researchers analyses the implications of the Platform Work Directive and suggests ways forward for the proposed ILO Convention. Read their paper: bit.ly/4nGs5LY 1/2
I appeared on ARD's programme “Titel Thesen Temperamente,” talking about the data workers behind AI.
Catch the segment here 👉 www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZD...
Catch the segment here 👉 www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZD...
ttt – titel, thesen, temperamente: Wie Datenarbeiter für KI ausgebeutet werden - hier anschauen
Hinter KI liegt ein System globaler Ungleichheit. Das zeigt das neue Buch 'Feeding the Machine' von Mark Graham et al. Auch Klickarbeiter:innen, die 'ttt' während einer investigativen Recherche traf, ...
www.ardmediathek.de
June 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I appeared on ARD's programme “Titel Thesen Temperamente,” talking about the data workers behind AI.
Catch the segment here 👉 www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZD...
Catch the segment here 👉 www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZD...
Reposted by Mark Graham
AI Value Chains: from Exploitation to Organizing -- with @geoplace.bsky.social, @martinkrz.bsky.social, and Uma Rani Amara - Featured panel @sasemeeting.bsky.social
08:30-10:00 Friday, 11 July, 2025 - Room 517C
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/37937/...
08:30-10:00 Friday, 11 July, 2025 - Room 517C
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/37937/...
June 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
AI Value Chains: from Exploitation to Organizing -- with @geoplace.bsky.social, @martinkrz.bsky.social, and Uma Rani Amara - Featured panel @sasemeeting.bsky.social
08:30-10:00 Friday, 11 July, 2025 - Room 517C
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/37937/...
08:30-10:00 Friday, 11 July, 2025 - Room 517C
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/37937/...
The German version of our book is now out, and is getting some pretty good reviews in the German press. Here's a few of them:
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/ki-feeding-t...
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/ki-feeding-t...
June 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The German version of our book is now out, and is getting some pretty good reviews in the German press. Here's a few of them:
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/ki-feeding-t...
www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/ki-feeding-t...
Reposted by Mark Graham
Our article "Beyond the ‘Gig Economy’: Towards Variable Experiences of Job Quality in Platform Work" has been published by 'Work, Employment and Society'. With Nick Martindale and @brendanburchell.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/0950...
doi.org/10.1177/0950...
June 3, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Our article "Beyond the ‘Gig Economy’: Towards Variable Experiences of Job Quality in Platform Work" has been published by 'Work, Employment and Society'. With Nick Martindale and @brendanburchell.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/0950...
doi.org/10.1177/0950...
Reposted by Mark Graham
As AI grows more powerful, it’s easy to overlook the people behind the data.
At Fairwork, we’re working to change that — with a new way to help companies strengthen labour standards across AI supply chains.
Make sure to follow us for the launch this June.
#Fairwork #AISupplyChain
At Fairwork, we’re working to change that — with a new way to help companies strengthen labour standards across AI supply chains.
Make sure to follow us for the launch this June.
#Fairwork #AISupplyChain
May 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
As AI grows more powerful, it’s easy to overlook the people behind the data.
At Fairwork, we’re working to change that — with a new way to help companies strengthen labour standards across AI supply chains.
Make sure to follow us for the launch this June.
#Fairwork #AISupplyChain
At Fairwork, we’re working to change that — with a new way to help companies strengthen labour standards across AI supply chains.
Make sure to follow us for the launch this June.
#Fairwork #AISupplyChain
Jonas Valente and I have just published a new @lbc.co.uk opinion piece, drawing on our @towardsfairwork.bsky.social cloudwork study to warn that a UK–EU youth mobility scheme could inadvertently funnel young people into exploitative gig roles: www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
@jonasvalente.bsky.social
@jonasvalente.bsky.social
A UK-EU youth mobility scheme could feed a generation into exploitative gig work
The UK–EU Youth Mobility Scheme offers real promise.
www.lbc.co.uk
May 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Jonas Valente and I have just published a new @lbc.co.uk opinion piece, drawing on our @towardsfairwork.bsky.social cloudwork study to warn that a UK–EU youth mobility scheme could inadvertently funnel young people into exploitative gig roles: www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
@jonasvalente.bsky.social
@jonasvalente.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Graham
Great piece from HR Review highlighting a new report from @towardsfairwork.bsky.social exposing corporate failure to provide adequate worker protections in Cloudwork economy. Article includes comment from @geoplace.bsky.social and @jonasvalente.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk. Story here: bit.ly/45hbFTh
Online gig economy exposes global labour protection failures, Oxford study finds
Most online gig economy platforms are failing to meet even minimum labour standards around pay, working conditions and contracts.
hrreview.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Great piece from HR Review highlighting a new report from @towardsfairwork.bsky.social exposing corporate failure to provide adequate worker protections in Cloudwork economy. Article includes comment from @geoplace.bsky.social and @jonasvalente.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk. Story here: bit.ly/45hbFTh
Proud of my @towardsfairwork.bsky.social team, who were finalists at the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor’s Awards yesterday
May 16, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Proud of my @towardsfairwork.bsky.social team, who were finalists at the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor’s Awards yesterday