Meta sued over AI use in layoffs targeting disabled workers

Meta Platforms faces a lawsuit from 26 former employees who claim the company used artificial intelligence to unfairly select individuals for layoffs. The former employees allege that the AI-powered software disproportionately targeted people with disabilities or those who had taken medical leave.

The lawsuit asserts that the AI system used by Meta in its recent mass layoffs was biased, leading to the dismissal of employees who were on medical leave or had disclosed disabilities. This practice, if proven, could violate anti-discrimination laws and raise serious ethical concerns about the use of AI in employment decisions.

Meta Platforms has not yet issued a statement or responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. The company's use of AI in workforce management has been a subject of discussion, and this legal challenge brings specific accusations of discriminatory application.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages and alleging that Meta's actions constitute unlawful discrimination. The case highlights growing concerns about the potential for AI systems to perpetuate or even amplify existing biases in the workplace.