Algorithmic control in the gig economy: potential for deportation of international students from Australia

This article explores the role of algorithmic control in the deportation process of international students working in Australia's gig economy. Under strict visa conditions, international students are limited to 24 h of work per week, yet many turn to gig platforms like Uber and DoorDash to sustain themselves. These platforms, governed by performance-driven algorithms, impose financial and operational pressures on students, pushing them to exceed their legal work limits to meet basic living expenses. Drawing on zemiology and Wood's stratigraphy of harm, this study conceptualises deportation as a form of social harm caused by the interaction between technology and discriminatory migration policies. The research reveals that while these algorithms are designed to optimise labour efficiency, they inadvertently exploit international students’ precarity, contributing to systemic breaches of visa conditions. By examining how algorithms drive task allocation and worker deactivation, the article highlights the power asymmetry between gig workers and platforms, where deportation becomes an unintended but real consequence. This interdisciplinary approach offers new insights into the intersection of technology, migration, and labour exploitation.