Meta sued over AI use in layoffs targeting disabled workers

Twenty-six employees have filed a lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms Inc. of using artificial intelligence systems to disproportionately select workers with disabilities or those on medical leave for redundancy. The anonymous plaintiffs, who were informed in May that their jobs would end by July 22, are seeking a federal court order in Oakland, California, to halt the layoffs while their claims proceed in private arbitration.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta utilized several internal AI-assisted tools during its recent mass workforce reduction. These tools included "Metamate," a large language model assistant, a "second brain" that tracked employee communications, and a productivity score derived from monitoring various digital activities. The complaint contends that these metrics, combined with AI token usage data, systematically disadvantaged individuals who had taken time off for medical reasons or to care for family members.

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Workforce management and organisational decisions were and are made by people, not AI.

Meta has rejected the accusations, with a company spokesperson telling Reuters that "Workforce management and organisational decisions were and are made by people, not AI." The spokesperson added that the claims lack merit. The plaintiffs assert that Meta violated federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and retaliation against protected workers. They also argue the company failed to test its AI systems for bias, contravening recent regulations in California and New York City.

The tech giant laid off approximately 10% of its global workforce, around 8,000 people, in May as part of a restructuring to boost investment in AI. While Meta has indicated no further company-wide job cuts are expected this year, the 26 employees behind the suit face job loss unless the court intervenes. Their request for a preliminary injunction is currently before the Oakland court.

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the claims lack merit.