Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract

More than 1,000 workers in Kenya have been laid off by Sama, a Nairobi-based firm, following the termination of a contract with Meta. The workers, many involved in AI training and content moderation, were given just six days’ notice of their dismissal. The layoffs came after Meta paused its partnership with Sama amid allegations that some Kenyan workers were required to view private and sensitive footage recorded by Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, including scenes of users in intimate or private moments. The controversy has highlighted the precarious nature of tech jobs in the global south, where outsourced workers often face significant risks with limited protections. Activists and organizations such as the Oversight Lab have condemned the layoffs as devastating and called for better regulation and support for these workers. The Oversight Lab is currently advising the affected employees on their legal options. Sama stated that it is providing support to the dismissed workers and emphasized that its employees receive living wages, full benefits, and access to wellness resources. This incident follows earlier reports and legal actions concerning the mental health toll on content moderators working for Sama and Meta. In 2024, a civil lawsuit alleged that 140 moderators suffered from severe PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to exposure to disturbing online content. Meta has defended its content review processes, stating that human reviewers operate with clear user consent to improve AI product performance. However, the company decided to end its contract with Sama, citing the firm’s failure to meet Meta’s standards. The situation underscores broader concerns about the power imbalance in the global AI and tech industry, where large corporations outsource risky work to vulnerable populations in developing countries. Former Sama worker Kauna Malgwi noted that the issue reflects systemic problems in the AI sector, where risks disproportionately affect outsourced workers with minimal protections. The layoffs also come amid growing scrutiny of major tech firms, as recent legal rulings have found platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube responsible for creating addictive products that harm young users.