Social media giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is confronting legal challenges in Kenya as content moderators employed by contracted company Sama have filed lawsuits against the tech behemoth.

These moderators are responsible for reviewing and removing violent and hateful posts on Facebook in sub-Saharan Africa.

The lawsuits, filed in May 2022 and March 2023, allege inhumane working conditions, deceptive hiring practices, inadequate remuneration, lack of mental health support, and unfair dismissals.

The Kenyan court recently ordered Meta and Sama to provide medical and psychological care to the petitioners, temporarily suspending mass dismissals.

In a separate case, Meta is accused of failing to combat online hate speech in Africa, with a demand for a $1.6 billion compensation fund for victims.

These legal actions shed light on the contentious issue of content moderation and expose subcontracting practices used by Meta.

Critics argue that poor working conditions contribute to inadequate moderation and the potential for real-world harm.

Experts emphasize the need for platforms like Meta to design systems that discourage the spread of harmful content and increase accountability to protect both moderators and users.