Lawsuit alleges Meta used AI tools to disproportionately select employees for layoffs while they were on leave.
Dozens of Meta employees have sued the social media company, alleging that it utilized artificial intelligence tools to target workers for massive layoffs. A group of Meta employees filed the suit in federal court, claiming the company improperly used AI performance ratings and monitoring data against staff who had taken protected leave, such as maternity or disability leave. The plaintiffs contend that these algorithms systematically penalized workers whose performance metrics were naturally reduced while they were absent for medical or family reasons. They seek a preliminary ruling to halt the terminations pending legal review. Meta disputed the accusations, with a company spokesperson stating that claims "lack merit and are not based on facts." The spokesperson asserted that workforce management decisions are made by people, not by AI systems. The lawsuit alleges that the technology gathered sensitive data on employee activity, which was not factored into the layoff selection process for those on leave. Despite the group’s claims, the administration has not issued a public comment regarding the ongoing litigation. The plaintiffs are asking the court to maintain the status quo to prevent irreversible harm to the affected workers.