Michael ‘Six’ Silberman

Michael ‘Six’ Silberman is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford, contributing to the iManage Project on algorithmic management regulation. A former software engineer and trade union official, he co-founded Turkopticon to support Amazon Mechanical Turk workers through client reputation systems.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Information and Computer Sciences, University of California at Irvine

Dr. Silberman's research critically examines algorithmic bias in digital labor platforms, data protection law enforcement, and ecological economics. His work integrates software engineering practices with labor rights advocacy, emphasizing multistakeholder governance for digitally mediated markets and values-oriented business models. He pioneers frameworks for accountable algorithmic management and decent work conditions in content creation ecosystems.

Recent publications reveal a cohesive focus on regulating platform labor through cross-jurisdictional experiments, EU policy blueprints, and consequence-aware information systems. This scholarship bridges computer science, labor law, and human rights, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in crowdwork and proposing polycentric governance solutions.

His notable recognition includes:

• Highly Commended in Social Sciences Impact Awards 2025 for the iManage Project

As co-leader of the iManage Project with Jeremias Adams-Prassl, Dr. Silberman collaborates with Oxford's Technology & HR and Computers and Law Research Groups. His initiatives translate academic research into tangible worker protections, evidenced by Turkopticon's real-world impact and policy contributions to the EU Platform Work Directive. Current work centers on fortifying regulatory mechanisms for algorithmic management across global jurisdictions.

Active within the Bonavero Institute's human rights framework, he advances interdisciplinary approaches to digital labor governance, with emerging research exploring ecological dimensions of information technology and organizational learning in platform economies.