The future of Amazon coders is the present of Amazon warehouse workers

Cory Doctorow argues that abusive workplace technologies follow a 'shitty technology adoption curve,' first deployed against powerless groups like prisoners and refugees, then blue-collar workers, before reaching white-collar employees. He highlights how Amazon and other Big Tech firms use segregated workforces where low-status 'green badge' warehouse workers endure intense surveillance and algorithmic management that will eventually be applied to privileged coders. The piece warns that without unionization, even elite tech workers will face the same bossware currently tormenting their blue-collar colleagues.