Kenyan court allows lawsuit against Meta

A Kenyan court has determined that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, can be sued in Kenya over the dismissal of several content moderators by a contractor. The moderators, who worked for Sama, alleged they were fired for trying to organise a union and were later blacklisted from applying at Majorel, another firm. Efforts to reach a settlement with Meta last October were unsuccessful.

The Court of Appeal upheld earlier rulings allowing Meta to face trial over the dismissals and allegations of poor working conditions. This decision could have significant implications for Meta’s global relationships with content moderators. Meta has claimed it mandates that its partners provide industry-leading working conditions.

Lawyers for the moderators see this case as a pivotal moment for Big Tech, highlighting the need for accountability in human rights along supply chains. Supporters, including the British tech rights group Foxglove, are optimistic about the case advancing to court.