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Unexpected Developments
On Thursday, April 3rd, European employees of Telus Digital in Spain were abruptly informed of their layoffs when they tried to log into their workstations. A terse message told them they could stay home, with no further notice given.
The news, reported by Le Monde, affects about 2,000 individuals, nearly half of all moderators responsible for European languages, according to documents Meta provided to the European Commission under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Meta insists that this is not a reduction in moderation capacity, but rather an internal restructuring of teams across various partner sites. However, the company did not clarify whether an equivalent number of moderators would continue to handle European content or where these positions might be relocated.
Telus Digital, a long-time subcontractor for Meta in content moderation, has not publicly commented on the situation. The company had previously been criticized for its working conditions: in 2022, the Spanish labor inspection had fined it 41,000 euros for psychosocial risks.
Growing Concerns About DSA Compliance
The recent layoffs come at a time when the DSA mandates increased obligations for major platforms concerning moderation, algorithmic transparency, and combating illegal content.
The significant reduction in the number of moderators thus legitimately raises concerns about Meta’s ability to meet European requirements, particularly in terms of rapid processing of reports, protecting minors, and combating misinformation.
This apparent pullback also aligns with a philosophical shift by Mark Zuckerberg, who has expressed a desire to return to a broad interpretation of free speech. Since then, the company has ended several fact-checking initiatives (preferring a community rating system) and relaxed its policies on hate speech, especially in the United States.
In the current climate, some see this as an attempt to align more closely with political lines championed by Donald Trump, in contrast to the inclusive or regulatory policies enforced by European authorities.