Court Rules Deliveroo Used 'Discriminatory' Algorithm

Deliveroo's algorithm used to rank and offer shifts to riders was ruled discriminatory by an Italian court. The algorithmic estimation of 'reliability' penalizes drivers for cancelling shifts less than 24 hours in advance, overlooking valid reasons such as illnesses or emergencies. This ruling sets a precedent that companies may be held accountable for even unintentional discrimination that adversely impacts a protected group, dispelling the myth that algorithms are neutral. Consequently, platforms are impelled to consider the inequalities and problems their algorithms might create in workers' lives.