nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in Sub–Saharan Africa, Ghana moderators are suing Meta and Teleperformance for psychological distress. This lawsuit joins an ongoing lawsuit started in Kenya in 2022, with the previous Kenyan Facebook moderators recently diagnosed with severe PTSD. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include a South African trial for two police officers, a new study on dehorning rhinos, and youth in Niger’s attempts at an “Eco Eid.”
Ghana moderators are suing Meta for the psychological distress they have received from their work. These moderators work for Majorel, an international outsourcing company acquired by Teleperformance in 2023. This instance is not the first time moderators in Africa have sued Meta.
In 2022, a Kenyan whistleblower, Daniel Motaung, launched a case against Meta and its outsourcing company, Sama. The lawsuit attempted to force Sama and Meta to prioritize the well–being of their employees traumatized by the content they view in their work. The lawsuit demanded that Sama and Meta invest in mental health resources for its employees, including human rights and psychological care consultants. It also demanded that Sama pay employees any unlawfully kept wages and increase their salaries to match the workers paid directly by Meta. It also aimed to prevent Sama from engaging in illegal union–busting.
Then, in 2023, Meta fired the 260 Kenyan Facebook moderators who worked for Sama, so Meta could shift to using Majorel. However, when these qualified moderators applied for similar moderating positions at Majorel, Majorel did not contact them for interviews. Thus, the moderators joined Motaung in suing Meta. The lawsuit included the unfair firing, arguing that it resulted from their attempts to form a union, and discriminatory hiring practices, alleging text messages proving Majorel avoided hiring any Sama employees.
A bombshell 2024 report revealed more than 140 of the Kenyan moderators were diagnosed with severe PTSD, with some moderators also developing general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder due to the traumatizing content they spend their workdays looking at. These findings were also added to the lawsuit.
Although Meta appealed the lawsuit, Kenyan courts ruled in 2024 that the case could proceed.
While Kenya’s lawsuit is still underway, Ghana moderators are launching a lawsuit against Teleperformance and Meta. Investigations suggest that at least one moderator was fired for advocating for better working conditions, and another was fired after attempting suicide. The lawsuit also details the inhumane working conditions, which include forcing some moderators to share beds and managers following workers to the bathroom. Employees are also encouraged to cycle through more traumatic content or work overtime to receive a “performance bonus” that would supplement their under–cost–of–living base wages. Teleperformance is disputing these claims.
Notably, in a 2020 settlement, Facebook had to pay $52 million to content moderators in the U.S. diagnosed with PTSD from their work.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across Sub–Saharan Africa:
- A South African judge approved a trial for two police officers accused of assassinating three protesting students during the apartheid.
- A new study has found that dehorning rhinos has led to a 78% reduction in poaching.
Youth in Niger are promoting “Eco Eid” to save the trees that are burned en masse during the festival, combining tradition with conservation.
a global affairs media network
Ghana Facebook moderators sue Meta over working conditions
Image via Adobe Stock.
June 13, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you weekly under–the–radar stories from around the world. This week in Sub–Saharan Africa: more legal trouble for Meta as moderators from Ghana sue for psychological distress.
U
nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in Sub–Saharan Africa, Ghana moderators are suing Meta and Teleperformance for psychological distress. This lawsuit joins an ongoing lawsuit started in Kenya in 2022, with the previous Kenyan Facebook moderators recently diagnosed with severe PTSD. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include a South African trial for two police officers, a new study on dehorning rhinos, and youth in Niger’s attempts at an “Eco Eid.”
Ghana moderators are suing Meta for the psychological distress they have received from their work. These moderators work for Majorel, an international outsourcing company acquired by Teleperformance in 2023. This instance is not the first time moderators in Africa have sued Meta.
In 2022, a Kenyan whistleblower, Daniel Motaung, launched a case against Meta and its outsourcing company, Sama. The lawsuit attempted to force Sama and Meta to prioritize the well–being of their employees traumatized by the content they view in their work. The lawsuit demanded that Sama and Meta invest in mental health resources for its employees, including human rights and psychological care consultants. It also demanded that Sama pay employees any unlawfully kept wages and increase their salaries to match the workers paid directly by Meta. It also aimed to prevent Sama from engaging in illegal union–busting.
Then, in 2023, Meta fired the 260 Kenyan Facebook moderators who worked for Sama, so Meta could shift to using Majorel. However, when these qualified moderators applied for similar moderating positions at Majorel, Majorel did not contact them for interviews. Thus, the moderators joined Motaung in suing Meta. The lawsuit included the unfair firing, arguing that it resulted from their attempts to form a union, and discriminatory hiring practices, alleging text messages proving Majorel avoided hiring any Sama employees.
A bombshell 2024 report revealed more than 140 of the Kenyan moderators were diagnosed with severe PTSD, with some moderators also developing general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder due to the traumatizing content they spend their workdays looking at. These findings were also added to the lawsuit.
Although Meta appealed the lawsuit, Kenyan courts ruled in 2024 that the case could proceed.
While Kenya’s lawsuit is still underway, Ghana moderators are launching a lawsuit against Teleperformance and Meta. Investigations suggest that at least one moderator was fired for advocating for better working conditions, and another was fired after attempting suicide. The lawsuit also details the inhumane working conditions, which include forcing some moderators to share beds and managers following workers to the bathroom. Employees are also encouraged to cycle through more traumatic content or work overtime to receive a “performance bonus” that would supplement their under–cost–of–living base wages. Teleperformance is disputing these claims.
Notably, in a 2020 settlement, Facebook had to pay $52 million to content moderators in the U.S. diagnosed with PTSD from their work.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across Sub–Saharan Africa:
- A South African judge approved a trial for two police officers accused of assassinating three protesting students during the apartheid.
- A new study has found that dehorning rhinos has led to a 78% reduction in poaching.
Youth in Niger are promoting “Eco Eid” to save the trees that are burned en masse during the festival, combining tradition with conservation.
