Meta is set to face a class action lawsuit by some of its workers in Ghana over severe psychological distress caused by their working conditions.
The content moderators for Meta, which is the parent company owning Facebook and Instagram, say their work of removing graphic, violent, and other disturbing online content has had significant psychological and emotional trauma.
The content moderators, employed by Majorel, a contractor owned by French multinational Teleperformance, say they have been exposed to extreme material, including graphic violence and child abuse imagery. As a result, many claim to suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse, with some cases as severe as suicide attempts.
Investigations jointly conducted by The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that around 150 content moderators in Accra work under grueling conditions for wages starting at about 1,300 Ghanaian cedis (approximately £64) per month, supplemented by performance-related bonuses.
The investigations further indicated that the aggrieved workers also reported that their earnings fall significantly below Accra’s estimated cost of living, pushing many to work overtime at reduced rates.
Despite the highly traumatic nature of their work, moderators allege that mental health care provided is inadequate, often handled by non-medical staff, with personal mental health disclosures reportedly shared among management. There are also claims of invasive supervision practices, with managers allegedly following workers during breaks.
Legal action is being prepared by UK-based nonprofit Foxglove, alongside a Ghanaian legal consulting firm Agency Seven Seven. Two lawsuits are being considered: one for psychological harms suffered by a group of moderators and another for unfair dismissal after a moderator’s contract was terminated following a suicide attempt.
A report by The Guardian states that Foxglove’s co-executive director, Martha Dark, described the conditions in Accra as the worst she has seen globally. She maintains Meta is displaying a complete disregard for the humanity of the key safety workers it relies upon.
Teleperformance has disputed the claims, stating that content moderators enjoy pay and benefits well above Ghana’s minimum wage and receive mental health support from licensed professionals. The company also claims that the housing provided is safe, upscale, and equipped with facilities like gyms and pools.
However, critics argue that Ghanaian labor laws have not kept pace with the psychological toll of modern digital work. Carla Olympio, a partner at Agency Seven Seven, believes a successful case could set a landmark precedent for worker protections in the country.
Meta, for its part, insists that all partner companies are contractually required to pay above industry standards and provide robust mental health support.
The case is poised to reignite global scrutiny over the treatment of content moderators, many of whom work behind the scenes in low-income countries to keep social media platforms safe.
