Twenty-six employees at Meta Platforms have filed a new lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using AI software to disproportionately target disabled individuals or those on medical leave in choosing them for mass layoffs.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit filed in Oakland federal court in California on Monday states that the company relied on factors such as productivity and the use of AI codes when it moved to cut thousands of jobs earlier this year, diminishing the chances of individuals who were absent due to health issues or caregiving responsibilities.
The plaintiffs, who were notified in May of their layoffs effective July 22, seek a preliminary injunction from the court to prevent Meta Platforms from proceeding with the layoffs until their arbitration claim is heard.
A company spokesperson said on Tuesday that the allegations are baseless. They added that "workforce management decisions and regulatory decisions have always been made by humans, not AI."
Reuters also reported that Meta Platforms laid off 10 percent of its global workforce in May, equivalent to about 8,000 employees, and plans to undertake further layoffs later this year.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg later stated that he does not expect any more layoffs across the company this year.