Meta Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged AI-Driven Layoffs Process

CALIFORNIA: (Web Desk) –  Twenty-six former Meta employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the technology company of using artificial intelligence to help determine which workers would be laid off during a major round of job cuts. Meta has denied the allegations, insisting that employment decisions were made by people rather than AI systems.

The lawsuit, filed in Oakland, California, alleges that Meta relied on AI tools to score, rank and identify employees for redundancy instead of depending on the judgment of managers familiar with employees’ work and performance.

According to the complaint, the AI systems evaluated factors such as performance ratings, calibration scores, productivity and output metrics. The plaintiffs argue that these measures unfairly disadvantaged employees who had taken medical or family leave or required workplace accommodations due to disabilities.

The 71-page lawsuit claims Meta failed to conduct the individualized reviews required by law before making layoff decisions. It further states that all 26 plaintiffs had either taken or requested protected leave or sought reasonable accommodations related to disabilities.

Meta has rejected the allegations. A company spokesperson told several U.S. media outlets that workforce management and organizational decisions were made by people, not artificial intelligence, adding that the claims are without merit and not supported by the facts.

The lawsuit follows Meta’s announcement earlier this year that it would reduce its workforce by around 8,000 employees—approximately 10 percent of its staff—as the company reallocates resources toward expanding its artificial intelligence strategy.

Meta is expected to invest up to $145 billion in AI infrastructure this year, nearly doubling its spending compared with the previous year.