The Struggles of AI Workers in Africa
Low-Paid Workers Behind AI Advancements
AI projects, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, rely heavily on some of the lowest-paid workers in the tech industry. These contractors, often based in poorer countries, are paid minimal amounts to correct chatbots and label images. On Wednesday, 97 African workers involved in AI training and online content moderation for companies like Meta and OpenAI voiced their concerns.
Call for Fair Treatment
These workers have urged President Biden to ensure that US tech companies engage fairly with overseas tech workers, comply with local laws, and cease union-busting practices. They also recommend that tech companies be held accountable in US courts for any unlawful operations abroad, particularly concerning human rights and labor violations.
“Everyone wants to see more jobs in Kenya,” Kauna Malgwi, a member of the African Content Moderators Union steering committee, says. “But not at any cost. All we are asking for is dignified, fairly paid work that is safe and secure.”
Formation of the African Content Moderators Union
This letter comes just over a year after 150 workers formed the African Content Moderators Union. In response, Meta promptly laid off nearly 300 Kenya-based content moderators, which workers claim was an attempt to bust the fledgling union.
Legal Battles and Demands
Currently, Meta is facing three lawsuits from more than 180 Kenyan workers. These lawsuits demand more humane working conditions, the freedom to organize, and the payment of unpaid wages. For more details, you can read about the layoffs here and the union-busting attempts here. Additionally, the Kenyan court’s orders for Facebook’s moderation contractor to pay its workers back wages can be found here.
2 Comments
Seriously, why is this even a debate in 2023?
Feels like companies just want to profit without any ethics!