Twenty-six current and former Meta employees have filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that its artificial intelligence systems disproportionately targeted workers on medical, family, or parental leave during a recent round of mass layoffs. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in California, claims that Meta's AI algorithms failed to account for protected leaves, violating federal and state laws that safeguard employees in such circumstances.
Meta laid off approximately 8,000 employees, or 10% of its global workforce, in May 2024 as part of cost-cutting measures tied to its AI investments. The lawsuit alleges that the company's AI-driven selection process penalized employees for exercising their legal rights to protected leave, resulting in a disproportionate number of layoffs among this group.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that workforce management decisions are made by people, not AI. The company's spokesperson described the claims as lacking merit and not based on facts. The lawsuit also highlights Meta's use of AI to monitor employee keystrokes and activity, as well as its implementation of a personal AI agent called a 'second brain,' which some senior leaders reportedly trained.
The case raises broader legal questions about the use of AI in employment decisions and the potential for algorithmic bias. Federal and state laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibit discrimination based on disability, gender, or pregnancy in automated decision-making systems.