Author Archives: Ambar Reyes

I am a PhD candidate in History, Anthropology, and STS (HASTS) at MIT. My research explores the intersections of technology, labor, migration, and digital platforms, with a focus on how workers and entrepreneurs use digital infrastructures to build networks, circulate goods, and navigate economies across borders.
A coloured photograph of a hand holding a red bag with medicines in it, next to the shadow of a delivery bike

Beyond Delivering Food: Networks, Risk, and the Hidden Infrastructure of Gig Work

I was picking up an order on 67th st and Columbus Ave when I saw the guy get on my bike and start to ride away. I got out of the shop and grabbed him; he said, “Sorry, I thought it was my bike.” A friend helped me hold onto him so we could call the police. The guy tried to break free and reached into a DoorDash bag he was carrying… Suddenly, he pulled out a syringe and started threatening us with it. I let go of his shirt but kept holding onto a backpack he was wearing; eventually, he slipped out of the backpack and ran away. I called the police to hand over the backpack and the DoorDash bag (which contained multiple syringes and a knife), but they never showed up.   (read more...)