Lawsuit Alleges Meta Used AI, Not Human Managers, to Select 8,000 Workers for Layoffs, Targeting Those with Disabilities and on Leave

A lawsuit filed by 26 former employees claims Meta used artificial intelligence systems—including a tool called Metamate, keystroke monitoring, and AI-usage dashboards—to rank and select 8,000 workers for termination. The complaint, filed in federal court, alleges the process disproportionately targeted employees with disabilities and those who had taken protected medical or family leave. It further asserts that workers were graded on their adoption of Meta’s own AI tools, with categories such as 'AI Native' and 'AI First.' The plaintiffs argue that the layoff decisions lacked human judgment and violated employment laws.