Is Africa becoming a 'digital sweatshop'? | DW News

Summary

Fiori, a refugee from Ethiopia's Tigray conflict, finds work as a Facebook content moderator in Kenya, where she is exposed to traumatic content daily. Despite low pay and the mental toll, she continues due to financial necessity. The outsourcing company Sama, which employs her, offers limited support. Critics argue that tech companies exploit cheap African labor, leading to potential digital sweatshops. There's a call for better regulation to protect workers and ensure ethical practices.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Fiore, a Tigray refugee in Kenya, found employment as a Facebook content moderator, but the job exposed her to traumatic content from her home region.
• 📹 Content moderators are tasked with reviewing graphic and violent videos, which can lead to severe mental health issues.
• 💵 Despite the psychological toll, the pay is low, with some earning only two dollars per hour, highlighting a potential exploitation of cheap labor.
• ⏰ Moderators have very limited time, such as 55 seconds per video, to review content, which adds to the stress and pressure of the job.
• 🚫 Facebook's outsourcing partner, Sama, recently laid off 260 content moderators, raising concerns about the treatment of these workers.
• 🗣️ Critics argue that Facebook is not doing enough to prevent the spread of incitement to violence in Ethiopia due to an insufficient team size.
• 🤔 There is a debate on whether the growth of tech companies in Africa, seeking cheap labor, could lead to the rise of digital sweatshops.
• 📉 The economic climate is cited as a reason for job cuts, but the timing after a lawsuit over mental health issues raises questions about Facebook's responsibility.
• 📚 There is a call for better regulation and protection of digital workers' rights, especially in the context of the gig economy.
• 🌐 African countries are increasingly focusing on the digital economy for job creation, but there is a need for better regulation to prevent exploitation.
• 💼 Data protection is becoming a priority in Africa, with many countries adopting laws similar to the GDPR to safeguard personal information.

Q & A

What was Fiore's experience like working as a content moderator for Facebook in Kenya?

Fiore found the work traumatic as she had to watch shocking videos day in and day out, which included scenes of slaughter and dismembered bodies. Despite the low pay of two dollars per hour, she continued due to financial necessity but felt trapped and desensitized over time.

What is the role of Sama in the context of Fiore's employment?

Sama is the outsourcing company that employed Fiore as a content moderator for Facebook. They offered limited support such as 'Wellness time' but it was insufficient as she wasn't allowed to discuss the content she had seen.

How did Fiore's work as a content moderator affect her mental health?

Fiore became desensitized to violence and felt disconnected from normal society due to the constant exposure to graphic content. Her work changed her from being outgoing to reclusive and paranoid.

What was the workload like for content moderators like Fiore and Awat?

They had to review up to 3500 graphic videos per week and were given only 55 seconds to review each video. Being too slow or making mistakes could lead to being fired.

Why were content moderators like Fiore and Awat sacked by Sama?

Sama sacked 260 content moderators, including Fiore and Awat, citing the economic climate as the reason. However, the timing after a content moderator sued Facebook over mental health issues led to suspicions that Facebook was trying to avoid responsibility for its workforce.

What is Nigeria Assembly's view on the exploitation of African workforce by tech companies?

Nigeria Assembly, a researcher from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes there is a significant risk of exploitation due to insufficient regulations. She points out that Africa's young workforce is often paid below minimum wage, and there's a need for labor laws to adapt to the digital economy.

How are African countries addressing the issue of data protection?

Approximately 20 African countries have data protection laws, often mirroring the GDPR. These laws are driven by the need to trade with EU countries and are now being implemented and adapted to local ecosystems.

What is the stance of African countries on artificial intelligence and its regulation?

African countries are still in the early stages of addressing AI, taking a latency approach to regulation. They are observing global responses to AI, such as Italy's temporary ban on ChatGPT, to learn and formulate their own regulations that balance protection and economic growth.

What does Nigeria Assembly suggest African countries should do regarding the digital economy and workforce?

Nigeria Assembly suggests that African countries should focus on creating regulatory mechanisms to protect workers' rights while also being desperate for jobs. She emphasizes the need for viable regulations and for countries to learn from international labor organizations to adapt to the digital age.

How does the script suggest Facebook could better handle the mental health issues of content moderators?

The script implies that Facebook should be more aware of and responsive to the mental health issues faced by content moderators. It suggests that Facebook should provide better support systems and not treat its workforce as disposable.

What is the broader implication of the content moderation issue for the tech industry in Africa?

The content moderation issue highlights the broader problem of exploitation in the tech industry in Africa. It raises questions about labor rights, mental health support, and the need for stronger regulations to protect workers in the growing digital economy.