Meta Faces Controversy Over AI Layoffs
A lawsuit is putting Meta in the spotlight, alleging that the company used artificial intelligence, rather than human managers, to decide who would be laid off. The accusation comes from 26 employees who claim they were selected for layoffs by internal AI systems. According to the complaint, Meta utilized a series of AI tools, including a system called "Metamate," to assess and select employees. These systems analyzed data such as AI tool usage, activity monitoring, and performance rankings.
The issue is that the AI did not take into account differences caused by disabilities or protected medical leaves. Employees were classified based on their adoption of AI tools, with categories such as "AI Native" and "AI First." This created a problem: employees on medical leave or with disabilities were penalized, as they could not accumulate the same productivity metrics.
Meta Denies Use of AI for Layoffs
Meta, for its part, categorically denies that AI was responsible for the layoff decisions. In a statement, the company said that "these allegations are meritless and not based on facts." Meta insists that decisions were made by people, not machines. However, the lawsuit claims that the company did not adjust scores for employees on leave or who requested accommodations for disabilities. This resulted in a disproportionate selection of employees on leave for layoffs.
The lawsuit highlights cases such as that of a scientist who was laid off while on prenatal leave, one day before giving birth. Other employees on medical leave or with accommodations to work from home were also affected. The 26 plaintiffs, who work in various states across the U.S., accuse Meta of violating laws such as the US Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Plaintiffs Seek Changes at Meta
The plaintiffs want Meta to preserve the employment and leave status of each worker. Additionally, they are requesting an independent audit to review the layoff selection process. They want this audit to examine the inputs, weights, and outputs of the selection process. They also request that scores be recalculated without considering leaves and accommodations.
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