Tech

Kenyan Facebook content moderator sues Meta over deplorable working conditions

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2022

A Kenyan content moderator who once worked for Facebook owner, Meta Platforms Inc, on Tuesday, filed a lawsuit over the alleged poor working conditions for contracted content moderators which violates the Kenyan constitution.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Daniel Motaung who was recruited in 2019 from South Africa to work for Sama in Nairobi. Motaung said he was not given details about the nature of the work reviewing Facebook posts before his arrival and the first video he remembers moderating was a beheading.

As the disturbing content piled up causing him mental health issues. Motaung says his pay and mental health support were inadequate.

“I have been diagnosed with severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” Motaung said. “I am living …a horror movie.”

The petition which was also filed against Meta’s local outsourcing company in the country, Sama, alleges that workers moderating Facebook posts in Kenya have been subjected to unreasonable working conditions including irregular pay, inadequate mental health support, union-busting, and violations of their privacy and dignity.

The lawsuit, among other things, is seeking financial compensation, an order that outsourced moderators have the same health care and pay scale as Meta employees, order to protect unionization rights, and an independent human rights audit of the office.

Daniel Motaung

A Meta spokesperson who reacted to the lawsuit said the company takes responsibility for the people who work for it seriously contrary to the suit.

“We take our responsibility to the people who review content for Meta seriously and require our partners to provide industry-leading pay, benefits and support.

“We also encourage content reviewers to raise issues when they become aware of them and regularly conduct independent audits to ensure our partners are meeting the high standards we expect.”

Sama, on the other hand, said it had previously rejected claims that its employees were paid unfairly, that the recruitment process was opaque, or that its mental health benefits were inadequate.

The lawsuit’s specific requests for action are more wide-ranging than those sought in previous cases and could go beyond Kenya to other African countries, according to Odanga Madung, a fellow at the Mozilla Foundation, a US-based global nonprofit dedicated to internet rights.

“This could have ripple effects. Facebook is going to have to reveal a lot about how they run their moderation operation,” Madung said.

Meta has already faced scrutiny over content moderators’ working conditions and last year, a California judge approved an $85 million settlement between Facebook and more than 10,000 content moderators who had accused the company of failing to protect them from psychological injuries resulting from their exposure to graphic and violent imagery.

Globally, thousands of Facebook moderators review social media posts that could depict violence, nudity, racism or other offensive content and many of them have reported mental torture just by going through some of the contents.

Related Topics:Facebook Featured Kenya Lawsuit Meta

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Tech

Intel Liftoff Hackathon 2024 calls for applications from African AI startups

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Applications for the 2024 cohort of Intel Liftoff Hackathon has opened for African AI startups designed to bring together aspiring tech entrepreneurs, software developers, and AI enthusiasts to collaborate, innovate, and create solutions to concrete African challenges.

In its second edition, the hackathon welcomes pioneering early-stage AI startup teams from the African continent, delving into experiments with LLM technology, a statement on the website of the organiser stated.

It added that the Intel Liftoff Hackathon for African AI Startups, which will be held online on May 27-31, is themed “Hack and Connect”, and will take place in partnership with Modus Africa, University Mohamed VI Polytechnic, Morocco

Other partners include TUT Hub of Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa, Prosper Africa, UM6P Ventures, FAST Accelerator, Innov8 Technology Hubs, and Open Startups International.

“The hackathon will feature hands-on workshops that will allow learning of AI essentials; three days of challenges with mentors to test skills; exhibition opportunities to showcase startups and forge partnerships with industry leaders; and networking opportunities to engage with fellow startups and gain insights from domain experts in the AI ecosystem,” the statement said.

“Winners will be invited to join the Intel Liftoff for Startups programme, and receive unique mentoring sessions with ecosystem partners and marketing opportunities with blog articles,” it concluded.

Tech

Nigeria’s NGX Group enters into strategic investment partnership with Ethiopian Securities Exchange

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Leading Nigerian integrated market infrastructure group in Africa, the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), has announced strategic investment in the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX).

Chairman of the NGX Group,
Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, who made the announcement in a statement, said the pivotal move would not only mark the group’s entry into the East African market but also “underscores its commitment to driving growth and innovation in the African capital markets, while strategically positioning itself as the largest foreign institutional investor in the ESX.”

He noted that the “investment in the ESX reflects NGX Group’s confidence in the potential of Ethiopia’s rapidly growing economy and capital market.”

“By partnering with ESX, NGX Group aims to support the development of a vibrant and resilient financial ecosystem in Ethiopia, fostering increased investor participation and capital formation.

“Through this investment, NGX Group aims to contribute to robust regulatory frameworks and foster best practices within the ESX ecosystem.

”We extend our congratulations to the ESX on its successful capital raise and commend the Government of Ethiopia and the private sector for their support in bringing this pioneering initiative in the country to fruition.

“Our partnership with ESX is a resounding affirmation of our unwavering dedication to promoting economic development, transparency, and exemplary corporate governance standards that foster an environment conducive to inclusive growth, even as we aim to maximize value for our esteemed shareholders.

“The Group remains dedicated to providing ongoing technical assistance and capability enhancements to support the successful operations and growth of the ESX,” the NGX Chairman said.

Also speaking on the partnership, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/CEO of NGX Group, said:

“We are excited to announce our investment in the Ethiopian Stock Exchange, which represents a significant milestone in our expansion strategy. Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with immense potential for investment and growth.

“We believe that by partnering with the Ethiopian Stock Exchange, we can leverage our expertise and experience to contribute to the development of a robust and dynamic capital market in Ethiopia.”