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| Meta denies African content-moderator firm exit poses risk | Meta denies African content-moderator firm exit poses risk |
| (3 months later) | |
| Meta has denied harmful posts will escape review, after the contractor running Facebook's main moderation hub for east Africa, Sama, announced it would stop providing content-review services to social-media platforms. | Meta has denied harmful posts will escape review, after the contractor running Facebook's main moderation hub for east Africa, Sama, announced it would stop providing content-review services to social-media platforms. |
| Meta said it had been "Sama's decision" and Sama blamed the "economic climate". | Meta said it had been "Sama's decision" and Sama blamed the "economic climate". |
| In May, a former moderator who claims the work harmed his mental health sued both firms. | In May, a former moderator who claims the work harmed his mental health sued both firms. |
| Daniel Motaung says posts he reviewed showed beheadings and child abuse. | Daniel Motaung says posts he reviewed showed beheadings and child abuse. |
| Mr Motaung, who says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), says he was paid about $2.20 (£1.80) an hour for his work. | Mr Motaung, who says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), says he was paid about $2.20 (£1.80) an hour for his work. |
| 'Legal options' | 'Legal options' |
| Sama said it would "let go" about 3% of its staff, mostly from the Nairobi office, where they remove posts flagged for review if they break the platform's rules, and focus on its computer-vision work. | Sama said it would "let go" about 3% of its staff, mostly from the Nairobi office, where they remove posts flagged for review if they break the platform's rules, and focus on its computer-vision work. |
| They would receive wellbeing support for 12 months after their last day of employment, it said. | They would receive wellbeing support for 12 months after their last day of employment, it said. |
| Meta said it would "work with our partners during this transition to ensure there's no impact on our ability to review content". | Meta said it would "work with our partners during this transition to ensure there's no impact on our ability to review content". |
| Ms Mutemi speaking outside court in May | Ms Mutemi speaking outside court in May |
| Campaign group Foxglove - which is supporting Mr Motaung and is also involved in a separate case brought in Kenya against Meta, over its handling of material relating to ethnic violence in Ethiopia - suggested the platform may have already struck a deal with another company to provide outsourced moderation. | Campaign group Foxglove - which is supporting Mr Motaung and is also involved in a separate case brought in Kenya against Meta, over its handling of material relating to ethnic violence in Ethiopia - suggested the platform may have already struck a deal with another company to provide outsourced moderation. |
| It urged Meta to end its reliance on "cut-rate" outsourced moderation that "chews through workers". | It urged Meta to end its reliance on "cut-rate" outsourced moderation that "chews through workers". |
| Mr Motaung's lawyer, Mercy Mutemi, said her legal team was "actively engaging" with workers affected by Sama's decision to end content moderation work and helping them assess their legal options. | Mr Motaung's lawyer, Mercy Mutemi, said her legal team was "actively engaging" with workers affected by Sama's decision to end content moderation work and helping them assess their legal options. |
| 'Wellness programme' | 'Wellness programme' |
| Mr Motaung, claimed the support given to moderators was inadequate. | Mr Motaung, claimed the support given to moderators was inadequate. |
| Sama has called his accusations "both disappointing and inaccurate". | Sama has called his accusations "both disappointing and inaccurate". |
| It provided all members of its workforce with a competitive wage, benefits, upward mobility, and a robust mental-health and wellness programme, it said. | It provided all members of its workforce with a competitive wage, benefits, upward mobility, and a robust mental-health and wellness programme, it said. |
| Meta declined to comment directly on the legal action but has said it requires partners "to provide industry-leading pay, benefits and support". | Meta declined to comment directly on the legal action but has said it requires partners "to provide industry-leading pay, benefits and support". |
| On 6 February, a judge is expected to rule on whether the Kenyan court is the appropriate jurisdiction to hear Mr Motaung's complaint. | On 6 February, a judge is expected to rule on whether the Kenyan court is the appropriate jurisdiction to hear Mr Motaung's complaint. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Kenya | Kenya |
| Meta | Meta |
| Africa |