The case against Meta brought to the limelight by a former employee of the company has attracted the attention of global rights organizations who are now calling on the tech giant to desist from interfering with the court process.
In a letter addressed to Facebook and its parent company Meta, more than 80 labour organizations from across the world have asked the conglomerate to avoid any attempts to silence Daniel Motaung. Motaung is a South African man who was fired after lifting the lid on poor working conditions in one of Meta’s Nairobi offices.
In the case, Matoung said that he and his team were subjected to long hours of traumatizing content when he worked as a subcontractor for the company. Motaung was among a team that was hired by Sama, a company subcontracted by meta to undertake content moderation. In the lawsuit, Motaung decries poor working conditions, intimidation and low pay.
“Facebook’s treatment of a low-paid, Black whistleblower is all the more shocking when compared to its response to other whistleblowers with more privilege and profile.” The letter read in part signed by some high-profile whistleblowers such as Frances Haugen who hit the headlines last after raising her voice against facebook’s business practices.
Signatories to the letter include The All Africa Students Union, comprising all national student unions across the 54 African countries, the Central Organization of Trade Unions in Kenya, and Uni Global Union, alongside organizations such as Global Witness and SumofUs.
In June, Meta said that it wanted the case dropped, arguing that Kenyan courts have no jurisdiction to hear and determine it.
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