Data Workers Terminated Following Revelations About Sensitive Footage

Meta has terminated its multimillion-dollar contract with Sama, a San Francisco-based outsourcing firm operating in Nairobi’s digital hub. This decision comes less than two months after Kenyan data workers raised concerns about the nature of their work, which involved reviewing footage from Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Over 1,100 employees at Sama were notified on April 16 that their positions would be eliminated with only six days’ notice. These workers were responsible for labeling sensitive user content captured by the smart glasses to train Meta’s AI systems.

The controversy began when workers reported seeing footage of users in private moments – including undressing, bathroom activities, and even sexual acts – raising significant privacy concerns that were first publicized in February.

Meta claims it ended the partnership because Sama “don’t meet our standards,” while Sama maintains they received no prior notification of any issues. A Kenyan workers’ organization alleges the layoffs are retaliation for speaking out, an accusation Meta has not directly addressed.

The fallout extends beyond Kenya: a UK data watchdog inquiry, a Kenyan privacy investigation, and a class-action lawsuit in the US have all been triggered by these revelations.

Part of a Larger Pattern

This is the latest development in years of legal battles between Meta and its Kenyan contractors. Nearly 200 former content moderators are already suing Meta and Sama, alleging forced labor, human trafficking, and severe psychological trauma from reviewing disturbing online content.

The courts appear to be rejecting tech companies’ attempts to shield themselves behind outsourcing arrangements – Kenya’s Court of Appeal has already ruled that Meta can be sued in the country for its actions.

As Kauna Malgwi, a former Sama worker, told The Guardian: “Power sits with large technology companies. Risk flows downward, affecting outsourced workers who have the least protection and highest exposure.”

This incident highlights the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI training data and the vulnerability of low-wage workers in global tech supply chains.