A group of content moderators in Ghana has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, claiming that exposure to disturbing and graphic content has caused severe psychological harm.
The moderators, employed by Majorel, a firm contracted by Meta to review content, allege that they were subjected to violent materials, including beheadings, child abuse, and suicide videos, which have led to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse.
One anonymous moderator shared his disturbing experience, saying, “The first day, I didn’t come across any graphic content, but gradually I started coming across very graphic content like beheadings, child abuse, bestiality. When I first came across that ticket, I was very shocked. I didn’t even look at my computer because it was very disturbing for me.”
The moderator went on to explain how his response to the content evolved over time, stating, “I even started to enjoy seeing people beheaded, child abuse, pornography, suicide.” This reflects the desensitising effect that prolonged exposure to such distressing material can have on individuals tasked with moderating it.
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The lawsuit, which is being spearheaded by UK-based nonprofit Foxglove in collaboration with Ghanaian law firm Agency Seven Seven, seeks to hold Meta accountable for the psychological toll its content moderation policies have taken on its workers.
Martha Dark, co-executive director of Foxglove, condemned the treatment of moderators, stating, “In Ghana, Meta is displaying nothing short of a complete disregard for the humanity of its key safety workers upon whom all its profits rely: content moderators. They are treated as objects who can be used up, burned out, and replaced with no concern for their mental health or well-being.”
This legal action follows a similar case in Kenya, where over 140 content moderators employed by Samasource, another outsourcing company working with Meta, were diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to their exposure to extreme content.
Meta has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.
