Digital Power and the Bangladeshi Platform Economy: Economic Emancipation or Neocolonial Exploitation?

Laila, Nazam

Abstract

In the era of Industry 4.0, political power undergoes transformation due to the rise of AI-driven technology. Thus, it reshapes concepts of international development and socioeconomic disparities in the cyber-physical domain. While digital power is commonly associated with cybersecurity and digital diplomatic strategies, its impact on the global labour market, particularly in the platform economy sector remains underexplored. Therefore, it is crucial to study how digital power thrives through AI-driven surveillance capitalism, algorithmic management and data colonialism in the platform economy sector specially within the postcolonial context.
On these premises, this dissertation aims to determine if the influence of digital power on the Bangladeshi platform economy serves as a form of economic emancipation or neo-colonial exploitation. In order to do so, this dissertation analyses empirical data on the Bangladeshi digital platform economy (also known as gig economy), encompassing both remote freelancing (cloudwork) and local service delivery work. Additionally, this dissertation introduces and employs the Digital Labour Autonomy (DLA) framework and the Platform Economy Freedom Index (PEFI) to comprehensively understand the subjective experiences of platform workers from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds in the context of digital power, data colonialism and surveillance capitalism. Based on this analysis, the research concludes that the digital power-platform economy composite is quite complex and functions as a neo-colonial hegemonic factor, creating a new social hierarchy in Bangladesh. Finally, to tackle AI- technology-based socio-economic discrimination, this dissertation proposes the adoption and implementation of data justice and ethical AI governance policies.

Citation

Laila, N. Digital Power and the Bangladeshi Platform Economy: Economic Emancipation or Neocolonial Exploitation?. (Thesis). SOAS University of London

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 21, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00552236
• Keywords: Data colonialism, data justice, digital power, platform economy, ethical AI governance policy, digital labour autonomy framework, platform economy freedom index, surveillance capitalism.
• Additional Information: 398 pages
• Award Date: 2025