Exploitation All the Way Down: Calling out the Root Cause of Bad Online Experiences for Users of the "Majority World"

Hellina Hailu Nigatu, Zeerak Talat

Abstract: Global Majority users are exposed to multitudes of harm when interacting with online platforms. This essay illuminates how exploitation in the advances of Artificial Intelligence is tied to historical exploitation and how the use of blanket terminology overshadows the layers of exploitation and harm ``Global Majority'' populations face. It first discusses the multitude of harm content moderators from the Global Majority face, arguing against the current trend of protection through exploitation, then it illustrates the nuances and differences within the Global Majority, and finally, it outlines actionable items to move away from such harm.