The Capacitor Collective is a research collective dedicated to digital worker inquiry rooted in labor organizing within and against digital capitalism. The collective includes: Enda Brophy, Julie Chen, Alessandro Delfanti, Brian Dolber, Lilly Irani, and Tamara Kneese. 

Contributors include:

Enda Brophy is a professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Julie Yujie Chen is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

Hiu Fung Chung is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto.

Alessandro Delfanti is a professor at the University of Toronto.

Wei Ding is a professor at Shenzhen University.

Brian Dolber is an associate professor at California State University San Marcos.

Victoria Fleming is a PhD candidate at York University in Toronto.

Cailean Gallagher is an associate lecturer at the University of St. Andrews.

Qi Ge is a taxi driver with the Shenzhen V Fleet.

Seamus Bright Grayer is a graduate of the Simon Fraser University School of Communication.

Erik H is an organizer, systems engineer, and food service worker in Seattle.

Alex Hanna is director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute.

Mostafa Henaway is an organizer with the Immigrant Workers’ Centre in Montreal.

Mikaiil Hussein is the President of United Taxi Workers San Diego.

Lilly Irani is a professor at the University of California San Diego.

Krystal K and Phil are organizers at Turkopticon.

Tamara Kneese is a research director at Data & Society.

Diana Limbaga is a graduate student at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Sarah Jean Salman is a Communication PhD student at Cornell University.

Tyler Sandness is a member of Rideshare Drivers United and former Lyft driver.

Kate Sim is a researcher and organizer with No Tech for Apartheid and TWC.

RK Upadhya is an electrical engineer based in San Antonio and an organizer with TWC and IWW.

Milla Vodello is the pseudonym of an organizer with the Amazon Worker Solidarity group in Toronto.

Peter Zschiesche is a founder of the Employee Rights Center in San Diego.

“Drawing on the intellectual and political legacy of Italian operaismo, Notes Toward a Digital Workers’ Inquiry offers an exemplary demonstration of how inquiry can function simultaneously as a mode of collective action and a form of critical theory. Combining theoretical rigor with political depth, it renews the tradition of workers’ inquiry by anchoring research in collaboration, situated knowledge, and processes of mutual learning. The interviews gathered in this volume trace a compelling cartography of workers’ struggles along the global digital value chain, amplifying diverse voices from within contemporary labor movements. This important book makes a significant contribution to current debates on labor, technology, and knowledge production, providing essential insights for scholars and practitioners alike.”
—Leopoldina Fortunati, author of The Arcana of Reproduction

“An invaluable collaboration between academic and digital workers certain to propel the struggle forward.”
—Robert Ovetz, editor, Workers’ Inquiry and Global Class Struggle

“At a time when Big Tech's domination of our lives in and outside of work is growing, Notes Toward a Digital Workers' Inquiry centers the voices of workers and researchers who are building alliances and fighting back. In the tradition of 'workers' inquiry', the book shows that successful organizing across the digital supply chain will depend on workers' own knowledge about the labor process, as well as their creativity and capacity to act. Chock-full of interesting insights and analysis by workers and organizers, the book is sure to inspire engaged scholars and activists alike.”
—Adam D.K. King, University of Winnipeg

“This essential book articulates and embodies ethical knowledge production amidst the rising tide of tech authoritarianism. It centers tech worker struggle and revives workers’ inquiry as the site of knowledge production and resistance. It is an inspiring and critical corrective to the proliferation of apolitical research on Big Tech.”
—Veena Dubal, Professor of Law, UC Irvine | General Counsel, American Association of University Professors