26 Meta employees sue, alleging unfair AI-driven layoffs

26 Meta employees have sued the company, alleging that AI systems were used to disproportionately target protected class individuals for layoffs.
Meta planned to lay off about 10% of its workforce, amounting to 8,000 employees, but the lawsuit claims that the AI methods employed did not account for employees on protected medical or family leave.
The lawsuit contends that Meta’s AI methods violated various state and federal laws including the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
Women and individuals on protected leave, such as maternity, paternity, or disability leave, were disproportionately affected.
The lawsuit references “disparate impact” as a legal framework, challenging the company’s use of algorithmic selection, and highlights these actions despite efforts to deprioritize such enforcement.
Meta has dismissed the allegations, stating that workforce decisions were made by people, not AI.
The lawsuit aims to keep the plaintiffs employed temporarily, arguing that the consequences of the layoffs are irreversible and include loss of healthcare, time-bound leave rights, unvested equity, and immigration repercussions.