Meta Used AI to Illegally Fire Pregnant and Disabled People, Lawsuit Alleges

Meta faces a lawsuit alleging it used artificial intelligence to illegally discriminate against pregnant employees and people with disabilities during mass layoffs. The complaint, filed by former employees, claims Meta's AI-driven layoff algorithm penalized workers who had taken medical leave, leading to their termination at higher rates than those who had not. This case highlights growing concerns about algorithmic bias in human resources decisions.

Former Meta employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the company of violating federal and state anti-discrimination laws. The plaintiffs allege that Meta's proprietary AI model, used to determine which employees to cut during rounds of layoffs that eliminated over 21,000 positions, systematically targeted individuals who had taken medical leave for pregnancy, disability, or other health-related reasons. The lawsuit seeks class-action status and damages for affected workers.

The allegations arrive amid broader scrutiny of Meta's employment practices and the use of AI in hiring and firing. While Meta has publicly touted its AI tools for efficiency, critics argue that without careful oversight, algorithms can perpetuate existing biases or create new forms of discrimination. The lawsuit specifically references the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and California state laws.

According to the complaint, Meta's algorithm assigned lower performance scores to employees who had taken medical leave, even when their productivity before leave was strong. One plaintiff, a former engineer, says she was given a poor rating after returning from pregnancy leave, despite receiving positive reviews earlier. Another plaintiff with a chronic condition was fired days after disclosing her need for accommodation. The company, the suit argues, failed to adequately train or audit its AI system to prevent such outcomes.

Legal experts note that this case could set a precedent for how courts evaluate AI-driven employment decisions. 'We are entering an era where algorithms make life-altering choices, but the law still holds employers responsible for those decisions,' said an employment attorney not involved in the case. 'If Meta's AI is found to have discriminated, it could force tech companies to prove their models are fair before deployment.'

The lawsuit is in its early stages. Meta has not yet filed a response, but in past statements has denied allegations of systemic discrimination. A judge will next consider the motion for class certification. Meanwhile, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and California's Civil Rights Department are reportedly investigating similar claims across the tech industry. The outcome of this case could influence how companies across sectors design and audit AI for hiring, promotion, and layoffs.