Meta is facing fresh legal action in Africa as content moderators in Ghana accuse the tech giant’s contractors of causing severe psychological harm.
Why it matters
Content moderation — essential for keeping platforms like Facebook and Instagram safe — often relies on workers in low-income countries exposed daily to extreme violence, abuse, and death.
These lawsuits highlight a growing global backlash against how Big Tech treats its “hidden” workforce.
Driving the news
- Moderators employed by Majorel, a company contracted by Meta in Accra, say the work has caused depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse.
- A legal team from UK-based nonprofit Foxglove and Ghanaian firm Agency Seven Seven is preparing two lawsuits: one for psychological damages, and one for wrongful dismissal.
- This follows a similar case in Kenya in 2023, where content moderators sued over PTSD-related harm while working for another Meta contractor, Samasource.
Details
- Workers describe viewing horrifying videos — including live skinning and beheadings — with minimal mental health support.
- Some moderators allege being monitored during bathroom breaks and forbidden from acknowledging their work for Meta.
- Contracts seen by The Guardian show base pay starting at just over £64 ($80) a month — far below Accra’s estimated living costs.
- Teleperformance, Majorel’s parent company, disputes the claims, saying moderators are paid up to 16 times Ghana’s minimum wage and live in upscale housing.
- Meta says it requires contractors to provide counselling and above-standard pay.
Between the lines
Foxglove’s Martha Dark calls the situation “the worst” she’s seen globally in six years of working with moderators.
Workers say the company’s wellness programs are ineffective and sometimes violate privacy by sharing personal disclosures with managers.
What’s next
- Lawsuits could set a major precedent in Ghana, recognizing psychological harm as a workplace injury.
- Advocacy groups are pushing for immediate changes, including better psychiatric support and stricter workplace protections.
Source: Guardian
