Rights groups tell Meta to stop efforts to gag whistleblower

Rights groups are calling on Meta to stop trying to silence Daniel Motaung, a South African content moderator and whistle blower who is suing it and its main subcontractor for content moderation in Africa over claims of union busting and exploitation

A group of over 80 organizations and individuals, including a former Meta executive, wrote a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, demanding that the social media giant stop trying to get a gag order issued on Motaung.

Meta asked the court to stop Motaung, a South African national, from talking to the media and in public because it risked pre-judicing court proceedings. Meta's lawyers were allowed to raise contempt of court proceedings if they had any proof.

Meta had previously applied to have the case dropped because they were barred from issuing evidence against it.

Your companies are trying to silence Daniel with a gag order and contempt of court proceedings Your lawyers have asked a judge to "crack the whip" against Daniel, a frontline worker who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the work he did for you and for which he was earning just $2.20 an hour. The letter states that Meta and Sama would rather shut Daniel up than address his allegations.

Meta sued in Kenya over claims of exploitation and union busting

The unions of the content moderation workforce should be supported by the rights groups.

Your lawyers want a judge to "crack the whip" against Daniel, a frontline worker who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the work he did for you and for which he was earning just $2.20 per hour. The All Africa Students Union, the Central Organization of Trade Unions, the Uni Global Union, Global Witness, and the Irish Council of Civil Liberties signed the letter.

According to court records, Motaung said his job exposed him to graphic content which left a lasting effect on his mental health. According to case files, Sama carried out a deceptive recruitment process by failing to mention the nature of the job that successful applicants would do at its hub in Nairobi.

The social media posts that are perpetrating and perpetuate hate, misinformation and violence are removed by the moderators from a number of countries.

Motuang wants financial compensation for himself and other former and existing moderators, as well as demands for mental health support and an end to union busting, among other things.

Meta says Kenyan court has no jurisdiction to determine case against it, wants it thrown out