As Richard Chirgwin points out, it's not computers, algorithms or IT systems that are at fault when something goes wrong. It's people - politicians and department executives - who make the rules. But a lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the quality of decisions being made by IT systems.
"To keep drivers on the road, the company has exploited some people's tendency to set earnings goals - alerting them that they are ever so close to hitting a precious target when they try to log off. It has even concocted an algorithm similar to a Netflix feature that automatically loads the next program, which many experts believe encourages binge-watching. In Uber's case, this means sending drivers their next fare opportunity before their current ride is even over.
And most of this happens without giving off a whiff of coercion.
"We show drivers areas of high demand or incentivize them to drive more," said Michael Amodeo, an Uber spokesman. "But any driver can stop work literally at the tap of a button - the decision whether or not to drive is 100 percent theirs.""