Dozens of Meta employees who were laid off last year claim the company’s AI tools unfairly targeted workers on protected leave.
Meta, the social media giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is facing a federal lawsuit alleging its AI systems discriminated against employees on maternity, medical, or disability leave during mass layoffs. The lawsuit, filed by 32 former Meta employees, claims the company’s AI-powered tools prioritized laying off workers who were on protected leave, violating federal and state employment laws.
The layoffs in question occurred last year, when Meta cut thousands of jobs as part of a broader restructuring effort. According to the lawsuit, the company’s AI systems were used to identify which employees to let go, but the algorithms allegedly favored workers who were not on protected leave. The plaintiffs claim this resulted in a disproportionate number of employees who were on maternity, medical, or disability leave being laid off.
The lawsuit accuses Meta of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), both of which prohibit employment discrimination against workers with disabilities and those on maternity leave. Meta’s AI systems are also accused of violating California state laws, which provide additional protections for workers on protected leave.
What this means
The lawsuit raises concerns about AI bias in employment decisions, highlighting the need for companies to ensure their AI systems are fair and inclusive. If the allegations are true, Meta’s use of AI in its layoffs could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the employees who were unfairly targeted but also for the company’s reputation and compliance with employment laws.
Lawsuit details
According to the complaint, Meta’s AI systems used data from the company’s HR systems to identify which employees to let go. However, the plaintiffs claim the algorithms favored workers who were not on protected leave, resulting in a disproportionate number of employees on maternity, medical, or disability leave being laid off.
Meta’s response
Meta has not commented directly on the lawsuit, but a spokesperson for the company told The Verge that it is committed to treating all employees with respect and fairness. The spokesperson declined to comment further on the allegations.
