Indonesia Faces New 'Digitally Vulnerable' Worker Class, Says Denny JA

Founder of Lingkaran Survei Indonesia, Denny JA, warns that Indonesia is witnessing the birth of a new social group he calls the Digitally Vulnerable Class (DVC). He describes it as a product of “algorithmic capitalism,” where data and algorithms replace machines and capital as the primary drivers of work and income.

According to JA, around four million platform‑based workers – ride‑hailing drivers, couriers, freelancers, content creators and online sellers – are already part of this class, and the broader digital economy involves tens of millions more. He notes that a single app notification can cut a driver’s earnings, showing how algorithmic decisions can instantly alter income, visibility, reputation and job continuity.

JA identifies three core traits of the DVC: algorithmic vulnerability, a digital collective identity linking workers across locations, and precarious expectations tied to algorithmic changes. He calls for social‑protection measures, citing the European Union’s “Work Directive” as a model, and urges Indonesian policymakers and platform companies to recognise the DVC and devise safeguards.

He adds, “If industrial capitalism relied on machines and financial capitalism on capital, algorithmic capitalism relies on data and algorithms,” underscoring the shift in power from owners to opaque digital systems.