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The Cleaners

The Cleaners

2018

Director

Hans Block, Moritz Riesewick

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A deep dive into the hidden industry of digital cleaning, which rids the Internet of unwanted violence, porn and political content.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.6/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film does not center on LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative narratives. While the moderation of sensitive content touches on the policing of queer visibility, the focus remains on labor mechanics rather than specific lived experiences.

Gender Representation

Fair

The narrative bypasses traditional gender hierarchies to focus on class and digital labor. It shifts the gaze away from Western tech leadership toward the diverse, overlooked workforce in the Global South.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The documentary excels by centering workers in the Philippines. It highlights how the Western internet is built upon the psychological labor of people of color, critiquing neo-colonial digital exploitation.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film critiques how Western-designed algorithms impose specific cultural standards of decency globally. It examines how tech corporations externalize human costs to low-wage, outsourced populations.

Disability Representation

Good

The film provides a nuanced look at invisible disabilities, specifically psychological trauma and PTSD. It avoids inspiration porn by focusing on the systemic causes of the workers' mental distress.

Strengths

  • Provides a profound critique of racialized labor structures and the digital divide.
  • Centers the voices and agency of workers in the Global South.
  • Offers a nuanced exploration of invisible disabilities like PTSD and psychological trauma.
  • Challenges Western-centric narratives of technological progress and digital neutrality.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation or focus on LGBTQ+ identities and narratives.
  • Does not prioritize female agency or subvert traditional gender hierarchies directly.

AI Analysis

The Cleaners is a progressive documentary that utilizes a post-colonial lens to challenge the perceived neutrality of the internet. It successfully shifts the narrative focus from Western innovators to the laborers of the Global South. By highlighting the disparity between Silicon Valley and Southeast Asian moderation hubs, the film offers a sophisticated critique of digital colonialism. It reveals the intense systemic inequality embedded within the global digital economy. While the film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ or traditional gender-focused narratives, it provides deep insight into the psychological toll of digital labor. It effectively frames the industry as an oppressive system prioritizing profit over mental health.

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