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Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Lawyers probe 'dire' conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana
By Nicholas Roll Abuja: Lawyers are probing "dire" workplace conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana, attorneys involved in the investigation told AFP, in what could turn into the latest dispute over the social media giant's labour practices in Africa. Content moderators including those in Ghana have long had to contend with a harrowing work environment as they scrub posts containing child abuse and even murders from sites like Facebook and Instagram. But legal experts at the Accra-based consultancy Agency Seven Seven and London-based nonprofit Foxglove are investigating allegations that moderators have had to view "distressing" and "bloody" content, including sexual assault, without adequate mental health care -- as well as accusations that workers have been sacked for trying to unionise. "What we are talking about here is potential psychological injury," said Carla Olympio, founder and managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, who has met with workers in recent weeks. "Everyone is suffering in terms of their mental health -- whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and more," Martha Dark, founder of Foxglove, told AFP. "The situation is pretty dire." The probe follows multiple labour-related lawsuits launched in recent years over conditions at the Facebook and Instagram parent company's now-shuttered content moderating hub in Nairobi, Kenya. That centre -- like the hub in Ghana -- was run by a third-party contractor, not Meta itself. Another suit in Kenya alleges that Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech in neighbouring Ethiopia, with deadly consequences. The Nairobi hub shut down in 2023, though the lawsuits are still ongoing. But the establishment of a new content moderation centre in Ghana had been until recently kept secret by Meta. The lawyers say around 150 content moderators work in the Ghanaian capital for Majorel, a firm owned by Paris-headquartered tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. One worker in Accra, who moved to Ghana from east Africa, told British newspaper The Guardian that his work as a content moderator drove him to attempt suicide. Employer-provided housing requires workers to share rooms, Dark said, while low base pay and an "opaque" salary structure incentivises moderators seeking bonus pay "to look at more and more content". Neither Teleperformance nor Meta responded to AFP's request for comment. Lawsuits in Kenya A Teleperformance spokesperson told The Guardian that the company has "robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing programme staffed by fully licensed psychologists". It also defended what it called "strong pay and benefits". Meta told the newspaper that it took "the support of content reviewers seriously". Foxglove is also involved in the lawsuits in Kenya, where it alleges the Nairobi hub illegally fired workers after they moved to unionise and voiced similar concerns about the mental health harms faced on the job. There is a way for content moderators to do their job safely, Dark insisted, citing limits in Ireland on the amount of content police investigating child abuse can be exposed to, as well as the provision of "proper psychiatric care". AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
Economic Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Lawyers probe 'dire' conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana
Live Events Lawyers are probing "dire" workplace conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana, attorneys involved in the investigation told AFP, in what could turn into the latest dispute over the social media giant's labour practices in moderators including those in Ghana have long had to contend with a harrowing work environment as they scrub posts containing child abuse and even murders from sites like Facebook and legal experts at the Accra-based consultancy Agency Seven Seven and London-based nonprofit Foxglove are investigating allegations that moderators have had to view "distressing" and "bloody" content, including sexual assault, without adequate mental health care -- as well as accusations that workers have been sacked for trying to unionise."What we are talking about here is potential psychological injury," said Carla Olympio, founder and managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, who has met with workers in recent weeks."Everyone is suffering in terms of their mental health -- whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and more," Martha Dark, founder of Foxglove, told AFP. "The situation is pretty dire."The probe follows multiple labour-related lawsuits launched in recent years over conditions at the Facebook and Instagram parent company's now-shuttered content moderating hub in Nairobi, Kenya. That centre -- like the hub in Ghana -- was run by a third-party contractor, not Meta suit in Kenya alleges that Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech in neighbouring Ethiopia, with deadly Nairobi hub shut down in 2023, though the lawsuits are still ongoing. But the establishment of a new content moderation centre in Ghana had been until recently kept secret by lawyers say around 150 content moderators work in the Ghanaian capital for Majorel, a firm owned by Paris-headquartered tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content worker in Accra, who moved to Ghana from east Africa, told British newspaper The Guardian that his work as a content moderator drove him to attempt housing requires workers to share rooms, Dark said, while low base pay and an "opaque" salary structure incentivises moderators seeking bonus pay "to look at more and more content".Neither Teleperformance nor Meta responded to AFP's request for comment.A Teleperformance spokesperson told The Guardian that the company has "robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing programme staffed by fully licensed psychologists".It also defended what it called "strong pay and benefits".Meta told the newspaper that it took "the support of content reviewers seriously".Foxglove is also involved in the lawsuits in Kenya, where it alleges the Nairobi hub illegally fired workers after they moved to unionise and voiced similar concerns about the mental health harms faced on the is a way for content moderators to do their job safely, Dark insisted, citing limits in Ireland on the amount of content police investigating child abuse can be exposed to, as well as the provision of "proper psychiatric care".AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Lawyers probe 'dire' conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana
Lawyers are probing "dire" workplace conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana, attorneys involved in the investigation told AFP, in what could turn into the latest dispute over the social media giant's labour practices in Africa. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Pakistan reopens Attari-Wagah border to allow stranded citizens in India to return Key Jammu & Kashmir reservoirs' flushing to begin soon Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 mn over 12 months Content moderators including those in Ghana have long had to contend with a harrowing work environment as they scrub posts containing child abuse and even murders from sites like Facebook and Instagram. But legal experts at the Accra-based consultancy Agency Seven Seven and London-based nonprofit Foxglove are investigating allegations that moderators have had to view "distressing" and "bloody" content, including sexual assault, without adequate mental health care -- as well as accusations that workers have been sacked for trying to unionise. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like After Losing Weight Kevin James Looks Like A Model 33 Bridges Undo "What we are talking about here is potential psychological injury," said Carla Olympio, founder and managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, who has met with workers in recent weeks. "Everyone is suffering in terms of their mental health -- whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and more," Martha Dark, founder of Foxglove, told AFP. "The situation is pretty dire." Live Events The probe follows multiple labour-related lawsuits launched in recent years over conditions at the Facebook and Instagram parent company's now-shuttered content moderating hub in Nairobi, Kenya. That centre -- like the hub in Ghana -- was run by a third-party contractor, not Meta itself. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Another suit in Kenya alleges that Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech in neighbouring Ethiopia, with deadly consequences. The Nairobi hub shut down in 2023, though the lawsuits are still ongoing. But the establishment of a new content moderation centre in Ghana had been until recently kept secret by Meta. The lawyers say around 150 content moderators work in the Ghanaian capital for Majorel, a firm owned by Paris-headquartered tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. One worker in Accra, who moved to Ghana from east Africa, told British newspaper The Guardian that his work as a content moderator drove him to attempt suicide. Employer-provided housing requires workers to share rooms, Dark said, while low base pay and an "opaque" salary structure incentivises moderators seeking bonus pay "to look at more and more content". Neither Teleperformance nor Meta responded to AFP's request for comment. Lawsuits in Kenya A Teleperformance spokesperson told The Guardian that the company has "robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing programme staffed by fully licensed psychologists". It also defended what it called "strong pay and benefits". Meta told the newspaper that it took "the support of content reviewers seriously". Foxglove is also involved in the lawsuits in Kenya, where it alleges the Nairobi hub illegally fired workers after they moved to unionise and voiced similar concerns about the mental health harms faced on the job. There is a way for content moderators to do their job safely, Dark insisted, citing limits in Ireland on the amount of content police investigating child abuse can be exposed to, as well as the provision of "proper psychiatric care". AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
eNCA
02-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Lawyers probe 'dire' conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana
Lawyers are probing "dire" workplace conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana, attorneys involved in the investigation told AFP, in what could turn into the latest dispute over the social media giant's labour practices in Africa. Content moderators including those in Ghana have long had to contend with a harrowing work environment as they scrub posts containing child abuse and even murders from sites like Facebook and Instagram. But legal experts at the Accra-based consultancy Agency Seven Seven and London-based nonprofit Foxglove are investigating allegations that moderators have had to view "distressing" and "bloody" content, including sexual assault, without adequate mental health care -- as well as accusations that workers have been sacked for trying to unionise. "What we are talking about here is potential psychological injury," said Carla Olympio, founder and managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, who has met with workers in recent weeks. "Everyone is suffering in terms of their mental health -- whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and more," Martha Dark, founder of Foxglove, told AFP. "The situation is pretty dire." The probe follows multiple labour-related lawsuits launched in recent years over conditions at the Facebook and Instagram parent company's now-shuttered content moderating hub in Nairobi, Kenya. That centre -- like the hub in Ghana -- was run by a third-party contractor, not Meta itself. Another suit in Kenya alleges that Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech in neighbouring Ethiopia, with deadly consequences. The Nairobi hub shut down in 2023, though the lawsuits are still ongoing. But the establishment of a new content moderation centre in Ghana had been until recently kept secret by Meta. The lawyers say around 150 content moderators work in the Ghanaian capital for Majorel, a firm owned by Paris-headquartered tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. One worker in Accra, who moved to Ghana from east Africa, told British newspaper The Guardian that his work as a content moderator drove him to attempt suicide. Employer-provided housing requires workers to share rooms, Dark said, while low base pay and an "opaque" salary structure incentivises moderators seeking bonus pay "to look at more and more content". Neither Teleperformance nor Meta responded to AFP's request for comment. - Lawsuits in Kenya - A Teleperformance spokesperson told The Guardian that the company has "robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing programme staffed by fully licensed psychologists". It also defended what it called "strong pay and benefits". Meta told the newspaper that it took "the support of content reviewers seriously". Foxglove is also involved in the lawsuits in Kenya, where it alleges the Nairobi hub illegally fired workers after they moved to unionise and voiced similar concerns about the mental health harms faced on the job. There is a way for content moderators to do their job safely, Dark insisted, citing limits in Ireland on the amount of content police investigating child abuse can be exposed to, as well as the provision of "proper psychiatric care". AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. By Nicholas Roll
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawyers probe 'dire' conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana
Lawyers are probing "dire" workplace conditions for Meta content moderators in Ghana, attorneys involved in the investigation told AFP, in what could turn into the latest dispute over the social media giant's labour practices in Africa. Content moderators including those in Ghana have long had to contend with a harrowing work environment as they scrub posts containing child abuse and even murders from sites like Facebook and Instagram. But legal experts at the Accra-based consultancy Agency Seven Seven and London-based nonprofit Foxglove are investigating allegations that moderators have had to view "distressing" and "bloody" content, including sexual assault, without adequate mental health care -- as well as accusations that workers have been sacked for trying to unionise. "What we are talking about here is potential psychological injury," said Carla Olympio, founder and managing partner at Agency Seven Seven, who has met with workers in recent weeks. "Everyone is suffering in terms of their mental health -- whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and more," Martha Dark, founder of Foxglove, told AFP. "The situation is pretty dire." The probe follows multiple labour-related lawsuits launched in recent years over conditions at the Facebook and Instagram parent company's now-shuttered content moderating hub in Nairobi, Kenya. That centre -- like the hub in Ghana -- was run by a third-party contractor, not Meta itself. Another suit in Kenya alleges that Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech in neighbouring Ethiopia, with deadly consequences. The Nairobi hub shut down in 2023, though the lawsuits are still ongoing. But the establishment of a new content moderation centre in Ghana had been until recently kept secret by Meta. The lawyers say around 150 content moderators work in the Ghanaian capital for Majorel, a firm owned by Paris-headquartered tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. One worker in Accra, who moved to Ghana from east Africa, told British newspaper The Guardian that his work as a content moderator drove him to attempt suicide. Employer-provided housing requires workers to share rooms, Dark said, while low base pay and an "opaque" salary structure incentivises moderators seeking bonus pay "to look at more and more content". Neither Teleperformance nor Meta responded to AFP's request for comment. - Lawsuits in Kenya - A Teleperformance spokesperson told The Guardian that the company has "robust people management systems and workplace practices, including a robust wellbeing programme staffed by fully licensed psychologists". It also defended what it called "strong pay and benefits". Meta told the newspaper that it took "the support of content reviewers seriously". Foxglove is also involved in the lawsuits in Kenya, where it alleges the Nairobi hub illegally fired workers after they moved to unionise and voiced similar concerns about the mental health harms faced on the job. There is a way for content moderators to do their job safely, Dark insisted, citing limits in Ireland on the amount of content police investigating child abuse can be exposed to, as well as the provision of "proper psychiatric care". AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. str-nro/sn/kjm
