As automated sorting systems, machine learning models, and aggressive web crawlers increasingly govern our public and private lives, ASRG provides a radically different lens. Instead of seeking to improve these technologies through corporate "ethics boards," they offer a blueprint for digital sand in the gears. 1. What is Algorithmic Sabotage?
The ASRG is not a law enforcement body. Yet, its reports have been used in shareholder lawsuits and regulatory hearings. Critics argue that the group’s lack of formal legal process (e.g., chain of custody for data) could lead to false accusations. The ASRG maintains a strict policy of "attribution without accusation"—they identify the presence of sabotage mechanisms but refuse to name specific corporate actors unless the pattern is independently verified by a government agency. algorithmic sabotage research group %28asrg%29
Workers manipulating local supply-and-demand metrics to trigger surge pricing. As automated sorting systems, machine learning models, and
ASRG turns discourse into action, encouraging "wildcat direct action" and artistic-activist resistance to reclaim spaces for ethical, human dignity. What is Algorithmic Sabotage
The ASRG defines "algorithmic sabotage" as: The covert or overt manipulation of a computational process to degrade performance, corrupt output, or cause physical/financial harm to end-users or competitors.
Gig workers—such as delivery drivers and rideshare operators—are managed almost entirely by black-box algorithms that dictate wages, routes, and performance metrics. ASRG documents how these workers engage in spontaneous and organized algorithmic sabotage to reclaim autonomy. Examples include:
October 26, 2023 Subject: Overview, Methodology, and Significance of the ASRG