Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a wave of lawsuits from content moderators who claim that they suffer from psychological trauma after viewing harmful content on its platforms.
Content moderators are responsible for reviewing and removing content that violates Meta’s policies, such as hate speech, child abuse, terrorism, and self-harm. They are exposed to hundreds of violent and disturbing videos every day, which can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
“It scars you for life. You can’t forget what you’ve seen. It’s like a nightmare that follows you everywhere,” said Selim, a former content moderator in Turkey.
“I have nightmares where I see people being killed or tortured. I wake up in a cold sweat and I can’t go back to sleep. I feel like I’m losing my mind,” said John, a former content moderator in the US.
Content moderators accuse Meta of not providing adequate support and training to cope with the stress and emotional impact of their job. They allege that Meta has failed to protect them from severe and irreparable harm to their mental health.
“Meta has failed to protect its content moderators from severe and irreparable harm to their mental health,” said Joseph Saveri, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the US lawsuit.
“Meta is liable for breaching its duty of care towards its content moderators and violating their fundamental rights,” said Cori Crider, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the UK lawsuit.
The lawsuits also highlight the ethical and legal challenges that Meta faces in dealing with the harmful content on its platforms. Meta relies on a large network of contractors and third-party vendors to moderate its content, often in low-wage countries. These workers have little job security, benefits, or opportunities for career advancement.
“We are not machines. We are human beings who have feelings and emotions. We deserve respect and dignity for the work we do,” said Mary, a content moderator in Kenya.
Content moderators in Africa are pushing for better working conditions and recognition of their rights as digital workers. They are demanding fair compensation, transparency, accountability, and safety measures from Meta and its partners.
The lawsuits against Meta are part of a growing movement to hold Big Tech accountable for the social and environmental impacts of their products and services. As more people become aware of the hidden costs of online platforms, they may demand more regulation and oversight from governments and civil society.
Relevant articles:
– ‘It scars you for life’: Workers sue Meta claiming viewing brutal videos caused psychological trauma, Euronews, October 19, 2023
– Meta’s Gruesome Content Broke Him. Now He Wants It to Pay, WIRED, February 6, 2023
– content moderation: Mental trauma: African content moderators push Big Tech on rights, The Economic Times, January 31, 2023
– Meta found liable as court blocks firing of moderators, TechCrunch, June 2, 2023