![China to pitch green tech exports to African leaders in Beijing](https://static.ntvkenya.co.ke/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-01T205732Z_443454616_RC2VR9ACEYT5_RTRMADP_3_CHINA-AFRICA-SUMMIT-320x240.jpg)
Meta faces Kenya legal offensive by content moderators
Slapped with massive fines in the European Union for violating data protection laws, Meta is fighting on another front in Kenya, where content moderators, responsible for reviewing violent and hateful posts, have sued the social media giant.
– Three complaints –
Since May last year, three lawsuits have been filed against Meta and California-based Sama, a company contracted by the Silicon Valley behemoth to moderate content on Facebook between 2019 and 2023.
When contacted by AFP, both Sama and Meta — which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram — declined to comment on the specifics of the cases.
Two of the cases were filed by content moderators employed by Sama — formerly known as Samasource — in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Their job was to review and remove posts from Facebook that were violent, inciting hatred or spreading misinformation in sub-Saharan Africa.
The first complaint was filed in May 2022 at Nairobi’s Employment and Labour Relations Court by Daniel Motaung.
In his petition, the South African accused the companies of “inhumane” working conditions, deceitful hiring methods, irregular and insufficient remuneration, and a lack of mental health support.
He also claimed he was fired after trying to form a union. The case is ongoing.
In March this year, 184 content reviewers filed a lawsuit at the same court against Meta and Sama, claiming they were unfairly dismissed when the latter closed its Nairobi content moderation hub.
They are also seeking compensation for “damage caused to their mental health and general wellbeing as a result of the constant exposure to toxic content”.
Earlier this month, the Kenyan court suspended the mass dismissals and ordered Meta and Sama to “provide proper medical, psychiatric and psychological care for the petitioners and other Facebook content moderators”.
Meta and Sama said they would appeal the ruling.
A third complaint filed in December in another Nairobi court accuses Meta of failing to act against online hate speech in Africa, and has called for the creation of a $1.6 billion fund to compensate victims, including the family of a murdered university professor in Ethiopia.
AFP is involved in a partnership with Meta providing fact-checking services in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
– Meta’s responsibility in question –
The cases represent the first major litigation on the issue of content moderation since a class action lawsuit launched in 2018 in the United States.
That case ended with a court settlement in 2020, when Facebook agreed to pay content reviewers $52 million as compensation for the trauma resulting from constant exposure to graphic, violent imagery.
Critics of Meta say the Nairobi cases are aimed at exposing subcontracting practices used by the company to dodge its responsibility for moderators’ mental health.
In addition to Sama in Kenya, Meta outsources Facebook content moderation to companies operating in more than 20 locations around the world, which together review more than two million posts daily, according to data provided by the company to AFP.
Lawyers for Meta told the Nairobi labour court the company could not be tried in a country where it did not directly employ people.
But the court ruled on June 2 that Meta was the “owner of the digital work and the digital workspace”, giving it jurisdiction to try the case.
– ‘Dark side of social media’ –
“These cases are pulling back the curtain on the true dark rooms of content moderation,” said Brandie Nonnecke, director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology and the CITRIS Policy Lab at the University of California, Berkeley.
“The general public doesn’t realise how vitriolic (and) awful the content can be and the true human cost of moderation,” she told AFP.
Cori Crider, director of UK-based legal activist firm Foxglove, which is supporting the complaints filed in Kenya, said “the main objective in all of these (cases) is to reform the way the work is done”.
The Ethiopian murder case and the content reviewers’ lawsuits are “two sides of the same coin”, she said, arguing that unhappy working conditions lead to poor moderation, which can have deadly consequences.
The complaints reveal “the dark side of social media in general”.
Nonnecke said the issues raised were the symptom of a deeper problem.
“The platforms built systems that are a powder keg for sharing harmful content… And there’s limited accountability.
“We need to focus on forcing them to design their platforms in a way that does not incentivise the posting and sharing of harmful content,” she added.
“Doing so can help to stop the posting of harmful content in the first place.”
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.