Meta’s content moderation in Africa is facing uncertainty

Court orders have prevented Meta’s content review partners in Africa from offering moderation services to the social media company. Moderators are responsible for reviewing social media posts and removing content that spreads hate, false information, and violence. Due to these legal injunctions, it is currently uncertain who is fulfilling this role for Meta in sub-Saharan Africa.

In mid-March, moderators claimed illegal firing by Sama and blacklisting by Meta and Majorel, resulting in the court barring Majorel from becoming Meta’s new moderation partner and mandating it to continue with the outgoing subcontractor, Sama, until the case was heard. The court has also prohibited Sama from conducting any layoffs.

However, it has come to light that Sama has sent all its content moderators on paid leave starting from 1 April, creating a gap. Their contracts ended on 31 March, and Sama could not modify their employment conditions because of the court’s interim orders. 

While Majorel and Sama await the court’s decision, a Meta representative said the company is collaborating with other providers on content moderation, but it is unclear who they are. The lack of personnel with knowledge of local languages and context to moderate content is already the basis of another case Meta is facing in Kenya.