Meta layoffs: US judge rejects bid to halt AI discrimination job cuts

A US judge has refused to temporarily stop Meta from firing workers who claimed they were unfairly singled out for dismissal by the company’s artificial intelligence tools, Reuters reported. U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled Friday that it would not prevent Meta from carrying out the layoffs starting July 22, even if the merits of the workers’ legal claims are decided through private arbitration.

The judge said the workers had failed to show that losing their jobs at Meta amounted to “irreparable harm” that would require it to issue an emergency order barring layoffs.

The complainants said in a joint statement that while the judge rejected their requests, he also acknowledged that the case raised “serious questions” about Meta’s conduct.

“The Court has made clear that it may reconsider its decision to reduce the force ‘based on additional evidence provided by the parties regarding whether and how artificial intelligence was used,'” employees said in a joint statement seen by Reuters. statements were included.

What are the claims about Meta?

The lawsuit was filed by 26 current and former Meta employees earlier this week, alleging that the tech giant relied on AI tools to measure productivity and AI token usage while disadvantaging people who missed work due to medical conditions or to care for family members.

The company also allegedly relies on performance reviews that are based in part on employees’ adoption of AI.

Employees claim Meta used a number of AI-powered systems to score and rank employees during the recent layoffs. These reportedly include an AI model assistant known as “Metamate” that works as a “second brain” trained by employees and tracks employees’ communications and documents, as well as a productivity score created by scanning keystrokes, screen activity, emails and browser history.

They also claim that Meta does not pause these AI systems even when employees are on vacation or legally protected leave. These scores were allegedly then used as input for the termination selection.

Notably, Meta announced layoffs in May as part of broader efforts to increase investment in artificial intelligence. The layoffs affected approximately 8,000 employees, or approximately 10% of Meta’s global workforce.

What did the judge say?

The employees had asked Orrick for a temporary restraining order that would prevent Meta from completing their layoffs while they pursued their claims in private arbitration. But while the request for a preliminary injunction is still pending, the judge on Friday suggested he might change his mind after receiving more information about the layoffs.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that workers could lose their jobs and wages, as well as valuable stock options and health insurance.

“There is no compensation for bonding with a new baby, giving birth, or receiving active medical treatment,” Barbara Cowan, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, told the judge, according to Reuters.