A vicious cycle of surveillance and overwork is leading to extreme mental stress and fatigue, pushing China's tech workers to the limit and causing backlash
Nikki Sun / Nikkei Asia : Tweets: @nikkeiasia , @charles_clover , @jimhandc , @hk_nikkisun , @cengizyar , @grimes_ce , @peterguest , and @plevy Tweets: @nikkeiasia : RACE AGAINST THE MACHINE | THE BIG STORY Surveillance software is pushing China's tech employees to the limit. Algorithms are starting to choose who gets hired, fired, and promoted. “We are all just small screws of a big machine.” @HK_NikkiSun reports https://asia.nikkei.com/... Charles Clover / @charles_clover : Who watches the watchmen? At last, we have the answer. It's the receptionist. Lovely piece by @HK_NikkiSun https://asia.nikkei.com/... James Hand-Cukierman / @jimhandc : Fitter, happier, more productive? Not exactly. From slavishly long hours to “smile recognition,” @HK_NikkiSun explores life and death in China's tech sector. https://asia.nikkei.com/... Nikki Sun / @hk_nikkisun : This week, we look at the dark side of #Chinatech. The promise of tech is an easier, more carefree life. But the increasing efficiency is channelled not into saving workers time for leisure, but getting more out of them every second of the day @NikkeiAsia https://asia.nikkei.com/... Cengiz / @cengizyar : “The harsh conditions synonymous with China's sweatshop factory culture have come to be identified with the country's technology companies, where workers often endure slavishly long hours to hit objectives set by big data analytics.” @HK_NikkiSun https://asia.nikkei.com/... Christopher Grimes / @grimes_ce : “Technologies are increasing the pace for people who work with machines instead of the other way around, just like what happened during the Industrial Revolution.” Brilliant piece on office surveillance and overwork in China by @HK_NikkiSun https://asia.nikkei.com/... Peter Guest / @peterguest : Software would also automatically flag “suspicious behavior” such as visiting job-search sites or video streaming platforms. “Efficiency” reports would be generated weekly, summarizing their time spent by website and application. Superb by @HK_NikkiSun https://asia.nikkei.com/... Pierre Levy / @plevy : « Canon Information Technology in Beijing, unveiled a new workspace management system that only allows smiling employees 2 enter the office and book conference rooms. Using “smile recognition” Canon said the system intended to bring cheerfulness 2 office » https://asia.nikkei.com/...