More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly laid off by the outsourcing company Sama after Meta terminated its contract. Activists described the move as shocking, exposing the precarious nature of tech jobs in the global south. The workers were primarily involved in content moderation and AI training tasks for Meta.

Last month, reports emerged that some Kenyan data annotation workers were required to view content filmed using Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, depicting private scenes such as users in bathrooms or engaged in sexual acts. Following these allegations, Meta paused its work with Sama, citing that the company did not meet its standards.

The laid-off workers, many of whom were engaged in AI training, were given only six days' notice. The Oversight Lab, an organization advocating for fair technology regulation and deployment in Africa, called the layoffs devastating and is providing legal advice to the affected workers.

In a statement, Sama acknowledged the impact on its team and claimed to be supporting affected employees with care and respect. The company asserted it is a "responsible corporate citizen," providing living wages, full benefits, and access to wellness resources, including medical coverage and on-site counseling.

The Oversight Lab criticized the layoffs, stating that current strategies are harming Kenya's youth and economy without advancing the country's participation in the AI ecosystem. Former Sama worker Kauna Malgwi emphasized that the issue reflects broader dynamics in the global AI industry, where power resides with large tech companies, and risks are shifted downward to outsourced workers in the global south, who have minimal protection.

Source: www.theguardian.com