Twenty-six current and former Meta employees have filed a federal lawsuit in Oakland, California, accusing the company of using AI-powered systems to disproportionately target certain workers during mass layoffs. The suit alleges that the software specifically targeted individuals with disabilities or those who had taken medical or parental leave.
The plaintiffs claim that Meta relied on productivity metrics and AI token usage data to select employees for termination. They argue that this layoff scheme unfairly disadvantaged workers who missed work due to medical conditions.
The legal action underscores rising concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and people with disabilities in the workforce. Meta has denied the allegations, stating it does not use AI to terminate workers with disabilities and medical problems.