Court documents filed on December 4 reveal that Sama, a contractor for Meta, allegedly dismissed threats made by Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) against Facebook content moderators working on graphic and inflammatory posts from the region. The revelations are part of an ongoing legal battle involving 185 former moderators in Kenya, who claim wrongful dismissal after attempting to unionize.
The moderators, who worked for Kenya-based Sama before Meta switched contractors to Majorel, said they were blacklisted from reapplying for roles at Majorel. Some moderators specializing in Ethiopian content reportedly received explicit threats from the OLA for removing the group’s posts.
One moderator, Abdikadir Alio Guyo, stated in his affidavit that he received a message warning him and his colleagues to stop deleting OLA content or face “dire consequences.” Another, Hamza Diba Tubi, reported receiving a message from the rebels listing moderators’ names and addresses, leaving him fearful for his safety and that of his family.
While Sama eventually moved one identified moderator to a safehouse, the petition alleges that the company initially dismissed the moderators’ complaints, accusing them of fabricating the threats.
Hate Speech Concerns in Ethiopia
The court documents also accuse Meta of failing to address systemic issues surrounding hate speech on its platform in Ethiopia. Alewiya Mohammed, a former supervisor of moderators, testified that moderators were caught in a “loop of hateful content” they were unable to remove because it did not technically violate Meta’s policies.
Experts previously hired by Meta had recommended more robust action against harmful content in Ethiopia, but the advice was allegedly ignored.
Broader Legal and Ethical Implications
This case is one of several ongoing legal challenges faced by Meta concerning its operations in Ethiopia. A separate lawsuit filed in 2022 accused Meta of allowing violent posts on Facebook to escalate the Ethiopian civil war between federal forces and Tigrayan regional authorities.
Meanwhile, the current lawsuit involving the dismissed moderators could have global repercussions for how Meta engages with third-party contractors and content moderators.
Meta has yet to comment on the allegations, while Sama said it could not provide a statement on the matter. The Oromo Liberation Army has also not responded to requests for comment.
The situation highlights the dangerous environment moderators face, particularly in regions like Ethiopia, where content moderation intersects with armed conflicts.