Meta in row after workers who saw smart glasses users having sex lose jobs (www.bbc.com)

Meta is facing backlash after terminating its contract with Sama, a company responsible for training AI, shortly after workers at Sama revealed they had been exposed to disturbing content, including graphic recordings from users of Meta's smart glasses. The decision, which impacts over 1,100 workers in Kenya, has raised concerns about the treatment of subcontracted workers and the ethical implications of content review practices. While Meta claims the termination was due to unmet standards, Sama disputes this, asserting that it consistently met operational and quality benchmarks throughout its engagement. This incident is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the ethical challenges associated with data annotation for AI systems, particularly the need for clear boundaries regarding privacy and consent in the use of smart technologies. Moreover, it has prompted investigations by regulatory bodies in both the UK and Kenya into potential violations of privacy and data protection laws. The controversy underscores the increasing scrutiny of the tech industry’s reliance on human review to enhance AI systems and raises questions about the foundational ethics upon which emerging AI industries are being established.