Event Recap: The FTC and Worker Surveillance: A Conversation with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya
On November 18, 2024, the NYU Wagner Labor Initiative hosted Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya for a thought-provoking discussion on the impact of workplace surveillance and algorithmic management systems. The event explored the relevance of consumer protection and antitrust laws in addressing these technologies, which are reshaping modern workplaces.
Commissioner Bedoya shared insights on how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can confront the challenges posed by worker surveillance. He highlighted the harm caused by such technologies, from intrusive monitoring of call center employees to automated systems managing rideshare drivers. Bedoya argued that many of these practices could constitute unfair trade practices, adversely affecting workers' rights, health, and livelihoods.
During the conversation with NYU Wagner Labor Initiative Director Terri Gerstein, Commissioner Bedoya also discussed broader implications of antitrust laws and the need for meaningful workplace privacy legislation. He emphasized the FTC’s role in protecting workers from unfair competition practices such as worker misclassification and corporate concentration, which limit job opportunities and suppress wages.
Attendees left the event with a deeper understanding of how regulatory tools, including antitrust and privacy laws, can be leveraged to create fairer and more transparent workplaces. A lively reception followed, where participants continued the conversation about these timely and critical issues.
