Meta in row after workers who say they saw smart glasses users having sex lose jobs

The Contract Termination

Meta in row after workers who say – Meta has faced growing controversy following the abrupt termination of a key partnership with Sama, a firm it had engaged to train its artificial intelligence systems. The decision came shortly after Kenyan-based employees of Sama claimed they were required to watch videos of individuals using Meta’s smart glasses, including scenes of intimate activity. The company, which employs over 1,108 workers in Kenya, said the contract ending would result in job losses, sparking accusations that Meta targeted its staff for speaking out about the content they reviewed.

According to reports, the workers described how they had to examine footage captured by Meta’s glasses, which are designed to analyze visual data for AI training. Some claimed they observed users in private moments, such as going to the toilet or engaging in sexual activity. These accounts, shared with two Swedish newspapers in February, detailed how the glasses’ cameras recorded scenes that were later reviewed by human annotators. Meta, however, maintains that the contract was ended due to Sama failing to meet its operational and quality benchmarks.

The Swedish Investigation

In late February, the Swedish media outlets Svenska Dagbladet and Goteborgs-Posten published an in-depth investigation into the practice. The report highlighted testimonies from unnamed workers who described their role in analyzing videos filmed by Meta’s smart glasses. One employee reportedly stated,

“We see everything – from living rooms to naked bodies.”

The investigation suggested that the process involved reviewing content shared with Meta AI, which the company admitted was part of its strategy to enhance user experience through human oversight.

Meta clarified that subcontracted workers might occasionally review content captured by the glasses as part of their training duties. The company defended this as a standard practice among tech firms, emphasizing that users had given consent for their data to be analyzed. Despite this, the revelation raised concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse, especially when the recordings were shared without explicit permission.

Regulatory Response

The incident has triggered action from data protection authorities in both the UK and Kenya. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) contacted Meta following the Swedish report, calling it “concerning.” Meanwhile, Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner launched an inquiry into the privacy risks posed by the smart glasses. These regulatory responses underscore the growing scrutiny of how companies handle user data, particularly in regions with high internet penetration and evolving digital norms.

Sama, a US-based outsourcing firm that began as a non-profit to promote tech employment, has defended its work with Meta. In a statement, the company asserted,

“Sama has consistently met the operational, security, and quality standards required across our client engagements, including with Meta.”

It added that no formal notice of non-compliance was received and that it remains confident in the integrity of its contributions. The firm also expressed regret over the redundancy announcements, framing them as a result of Meta’s decision rather than any fault on its part.

The Smart Glasses and Their Features

Meta’s smart glasses, introduced in September in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, are equipped with advanced AI capabilities. These include real-time translation of text and answering questions about the user’s surroundings, making them particularly valuable for individuals with visual impairments. However, as their popularity has risen, so have concerns about their potential for misuse. The devices’ small cameras, which activate with a light in the corner of the frames, have been accused of capturing sensitive moments without the subjects’ knowledge or consent.

Workers involved in the project described their dual responsibilities: labeling images for AI training and reviewing transcripts of AI interactions to ensure accuracy. One worker recounted an instance where a man’s glasses were left recording in a bedroom, later capturing a woman, likely his wife, undressing. The incident exemplifies the broader issue of how the glasses’ capabilities could be exploited, even if unintentionally, to invade personal privacy.

Previous Contract Disputes

This is not the first time Meta has encountered backlash over its contractual relationships. A prior agreement with Sama to moderate Facebook content drew criticism, including legal challenges from former employees who alleged exposure to traumatic material. Sama later apologized for taking the work, and Naftali Wambalo, a member of the Africa Tech Workers Movement, noted the pattern of Meta’s behavior. Wambalo, who is involved in ongoing litigation related to the earlier case, suggested that the latest contract cancellation was motivated by the company’s desire to silence workers who highlighted the human review process.

“What I think are the standards they are talking about here are standards of secrecy,” Wambalo told BBC News. He argued that Meta’s actions were a response to staff disclosures about the extent of human oversight in AI content analysis. The BBC has sought Meta’s clarification on this point, but the company has yet to address the claim directly. This highlights the tension between corporate interests and employee transparency, a recurring theme in Meta’s operations.

The Broader Implications

The controversy surrounding Meta’s smart glasses raises critical questions about data ethics and workplace accountability. While the devices offer innovative tools for accessibility, their use in monitoring private moments has sparked debates about consent and privacy rights. Sama’s transition to an “ethical” B-corp certification adds a layer of complexity to the situation, as the company now markets itself as committed to social responsibility.

As the debate continues, the focus remains on whether Meta’s decision to end the contract was driven by legitimate quality concerns or by a desire to curb employee dissent. The outcomes of the ongoing investigations in Kenya and the UK could set important precedents for how tech companies manage data collection and employee rights. Meanwhile, the 1,108 workers affected by the redundancy may find themselves at the center of a larger conversation about the ethical implications of AI training practices in the workplace.

The situation also reflects a broader trend of tech firms leveraging outsourcing to process vast amounts of data, often at the expense of worker well-being. With the smart glasses expanding their reach, the potential for misuse grows, prompting calls for clearer guidelines and safeguards. Whether Meta’s actions are seen as a necessary business move or a violation of employee rights will depend on the evidence emerging from the current inquiry, and how the company responds to the mounting pressure.