Source: Rest of World

New research by the African Content Moderators Union (ACMU) and Personaldata.io reveals a vast, hidden network of African workers employed by outsourcing firms that provide digital labor for major AI companies like Meta and OpenAI. These workers perform tasks such as content moderation, data annotation, and customer service, often under opaque conditions due to legal contracts limiting disclosure. The study maps labor flows from 39 African countries to subcontractors primarily in the UAE, North America, and Europe.

Cases such as a class action lawsuit in Kenya against Sama and Meta highlight exploitation concerns. Workers seeking transparency face incomplete data disclosures and privacy issues, as some firms share personal data with clients without consent. Experts warn that intermediaries shield tech giants from responsibility for poor labor practices. The report calls for increased transparency, accountability, and improved labor rights protections for African digital workers supporting the global AI industry.