26 Current and Former Meta Employees File Lawsuit: "AI Targeted Sick and Pregnant Workers for Layoffs"

"Selected Layoff Targets After Collecting Work Data With AI"
Meta Denies Related Allegations

Claims have been raised that Meta, the operator of Facebook and Instagram, used an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to select employees on sick leave or maternity leave, among others, for layoffs. Meta has denied these allegations, stating that all personnel decisions are made by humans, not by AI.

According to a complaint filed on July 14 (local time) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 26 current and former Meta employees anonymously filed a lawsuit, alleging that the company classified them as layoff targets using AI-based software.

The plaintiffs are employees who worked in California, Illinois, Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Among them are a scientist who received a layoff notice while on approved maternity leave and a manager who was laid off while on medical leave.

They claim that Meta used AI to collect and analyze employees' work data before narrowing down the list of layoff candidates. Specifically, they pointed to the use of internal large language model (LLM) assistant tools such as 'Metamate,' the employee work-mimicking agent 'SecondBrain,' tools for tracking keyboard input and screen activity, and AI token usage dashboards.

The plaintiffs argued that such algorithms failed to adequately consider the circumstances of employees who could not perform normal work duties due to sick leave or maternity leave. Employees on leave could not use AI tools or write code, yet the system allegedly interpreted this as low work performance and included them among layoff targets.

They claim Meta's actions constitute discrimination and retaliation in violation of federal and state labor laws, including those protecting maternity rights and prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. The plaintiffs have requested an injunction to halt the layoff process until the completion of arbitration proceedings and an independent audit of the relevant AI algorithms. They have also asked that any determination regarding unpaid wages and damages be left to the arbitration body.

The reason the plaintiffs chose arbitration instead of a regular lawsuit is because their employment contracts with Meta contain a provision prohibiting class-action lawsuits and require agreement to individual arbitration. Meta has flatly denied these allegations.

Meanwhile, this past May, Meta carried out a major AI-focused organizational restructuring, downsizing approximately 8,000 employees—about 10% of its workforce worldwide. In a memo to employees last month, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's Chief Executive Officer, admitted to errors in his judgment during the company's transition to AI, but also stated that he does not expect any further company-wide layoffs this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.