AS MULHERES POR TRÁS DOS ALGORITMOS DE IA E DAS FAZENDAS DE CLIQUES: EMPODERAMENTO OU EXPLORAÇÃO DE GÊNERO NO CONTEXTO DO MICROTRABALHO?

Abstract

The expansion of artificial intelligence and digital platforms has been linked to promises of democratizing access to work. However, there is little discussion regarding the invisible workforce responsible for collecting, classifying, and validating the data that power automated systems. In this context, digital micro-work stands out — an activity performed largely by women on crowdwork platforms and in click farms. Given this reality, this study aims to analyze whether the growing female participation in these activities represents a genuine form of economic empowerment or constitutes a new manifestation of gender-based exploitation adapted to the dynamics of the digital economy. To this end, a hypothetico-deductive method was employed, based on the hypothesis that women's entry into digital micro-work tends to reproduce historical structures of gender inequality through new technological forms. The findings indicate that, while these activities can serve as a significant source of income, their current structure is characterized by low earnings, a lack of social protection, and long working hours, thereby reproducing historical patterns of the exploitation of female labor.