Meta Accused of Using AI to Monitor Emails, Keystrokes and Web Activity Before Axing Workers on Sick Leave

A group of 26 former Meta employees filed a federal lawsuit in California accusing the company of using biased AI software to monitor emails, keystrokes, and web activity, then unfairly selecting workers on sick leave or disability for layoffs. The plaintiffs seek a court injunction to halt the redundancies, alleging disability discrimination and violation of algorithmic bias audit laws. Meta denies the claims, stating workforce decisions were made by humans, not AI.

Meta Accused of Using AI to Monitor Emails, Keystrokes and Web Activity Before Axing Workers on Sick Leave Lawsuit representing 26 staff claims the firm used machine learning systems to rank employees for redundancy A group of former Meta employees have launched a federal lawsuit in California accusing the tech giant of using biased artificial intelligence software to carry out its recent mass layoffs. The plaintiffs allege the company's covert automated tracking systems unfairly penalised vulnerable staff, selecting them for redundancy based on metrics they could not maintain while away from work. The legal challenge marks a significant escalation in the battle over workplace automation, threatening to expose how Silicon Valley's biggest players handle staff reductions behind closed doors. Workers Challenge AI-Driven Layoff Process Mass redundancies at Meta Platforms are facing fresh legal scrutiny after a group of 26 staff members launched an unprecedented legal challenge. The workers claim automated systems used to determine https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meta-ai-layoffs-discrimination-lawsuit-1808660 job cuts were fundamentally flawed, resulting in the unfair selection of employees who were disabled or on medical leave. According to legal documents submitted to a federal court in Oakland, California, on Monday evening, the company based its sweeping staff reductions on metrics such as output and active digital platform engagement. The performance-tracking approach allegedly penalised personnel who had to step away from their roles because of personal health crises or caring responsibilities. Court Bid to Stop Job Cuts Having received notice in May that their positions would be terminated on 22 July, the affected staff are asking a judge to halt the redundancy process before the deadline. The injunction would pause the job cuts while the dispute proceeds to out-of-court arbitration. Although company policy requires staff to resolve employment disputes through private, individual tribunals, the workers argue that these rules do not prevent courts from granting temporary emergency relief. Meta Denies AI Made Redundancy Decisions Rejecting the allegations on Tuesday, a Meta spokesperson said the legal action has no merit. 'Workforce management and organisational decisions were and are made by people, not AI,' the spokesperson said. The case is believed to mark a legal milestone, representing the first time a major American corporation has been taken to court over the alleged use of artificial intelligence in staff downsizing. Earlier reports indicated that a 10 per cent reduction https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mark-zuckerberg-replaced-10-staff-ai-now-admits-it-moving-too-slow-1807039 in Meta's global workforce during May — equating to almost 8,000 roles https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meta-platforms-job-cuts-ai-expansion-1793373 — was intended to precede further downsizing. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has since clarified that additional sweeping job cuts are unlikely for the remainder of the year. The restructuring forms part of a major internal transformation, with the company investing heavily in machine learning systems and embedding automated tools into both consumer products and its day-to-day operations. Claims of Disability Discrimination Spanning six states — including New York and California — as well as Washington D.C., the unnamed group of 26 workers allege the tech giant breached state and federal laws designed to protect pregnant employees, disabled staff and those taking medical leave, from unfair treatment. The legal complaint also alleges the company failed to comply with recently introduced local ordinances in New York City and California requiring audits of algorithmic systems for discriminatory bias. Inside the Alleged AI Tracking Systems Legal documents detail how the technology giant allegedly deployed multiple automated internal programs to grade and rank staff earmarked for redundancy. The lawsuit states these systems included the large language model assistant 'Metamate', an employee-trained 'second brain' designed to monitor worker correspondence and files, and an efficiency rating generated by logging keyboard activity, screen activity, email usage and web browsing history. © Copyright IBTimes 2025. All rights reserved.