Limitations of Transparency in Democratising and Regulating Algorithmic Management

This paper discusses the limitations of transparency and explainability requirements for management algorithms as a method of achieving the democra-tisation of AI governance at work. Using Self-determination theory’s conception of basic needs (autonomy, relatedness, competence), I analyse the limitations of transparency as a remedy for the harms that employees experience from algorith-mic management, and discuss how failing to address workers’ basic needs is op-positional to the goal of democratizing AI in the workplace.