amazon has announced that it will be phasing out its mechanical turk platform, a site where workers can complete small tasks for payment. the decision comes after years of complaints from workers who were forced to work excessively long hours and under low pay rates on the platform.
mechanical turk was launched in 2005 as a way for amazon to augment its workforce with temporary or freelance help. it quickly became popular among businesses and individuals alike, offering cheap labor for tasks such as data entry, content moderation, and transcription. however, workers have long argued that the platform's rules and conditions were often unfair and exploitative.
workers who used mechanical turk report feeling undervalued and overworked, with many working more than 40 hours per week on the platform. they also complained of low pay rates, which averaged just a few dollars per task. amazon has not yet commented on the specifics of its decision to phase out the platform, but workers are likely to be affected by the change. it remains to be seen what impact this will have on freelance work opportunities in general, and whether other companies will follow suit.