# Content Moderators Unite: Global Alliance Takes on Big Tech Over Working Conditions

## Content Moderators Unite: Global Alliance Takes on Big Tech Over Working Conditions

Content moderators, the individuals who sift through the internet’s darkest corners to protect online platforms from harmful content, are fighting back against the psychological toll and precarious working conditions imposed by Big Tech. A new global trade union alliance, the Global Trade Union Alliance of Content Moderators (GTUACM), launched in Nairobi, Kenya, is aiming to hold companies like Meta, Bytedance, and Alphabet accountable for their treatment of these essential, yet often overlooked, workers.

The GTUACM’s primary focus is addressing long-standing issues such as low wages, the severe mental health consequences stemming from exposure to disturbing content, and a lack of union representation. Companies often outsource content moderation to contract workers, requiring them to analyze and flag graphic content including violent videos, hate speech, and child abuse imagery. This constant exposure can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation, particularly when coupled with inadequate mental health support and unrealistic performance targets.

“The pressure to review thousands of horrific videos each day – beheadings, child abuse, torture – takes a devastating toll on our mental health, but it’s not the only source of strain. Precarious contracts and constant surveillance at work add more stress,” explains Michał Szmagaj, a former Meta content moderator now involved in unionizing efforts in Poland. He emphasizes the need for stable employment, fair treatment, and accessible mental health support during work hours.

The alliance aims to provide a unified global platform for negotiating with tech companies, coordinating collective campaigns, and conducting research on occupational health. Currently, unions from Ghana, Kenya, Turkey, Poland, Colombia, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Philippines are part of the GTUACM, with unions from other countries like Ireland and Germany expected to join soon.

While the US is not currently represented in the alliance’s formal membership, Benjamin Parton, Head of UNI Global Union’s ICTS Sector, clarified that collaboration with US unions like the CWA continues to demand justice within the Big Tech supply chain.

The launch of the GTUACM comes amidst growing legal pressure on tech companies. Meta, in particular, faces lawsuits from former content moderators in Ghana and Kenya over psychological distress resulting from their contracted roles. A group of former TikTok content moderators has also sued Telus Digital, alleging they were fired for attempting to unionize and improve their working conditions.

Benson Okwaro, the General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), emphasized Kenya’s growing importance as a content moderation hub, stating, “We welcome investors to Kenya to invest in this sector, but it must not be against the health of workers in this country.” He declared that the alliance aims to send a clear message to major players like Meta, TikTok, Alphabet, and Amazon: moderators will no longer remain silent while platforms profit from their suffering.

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, succinctly summarized the alliance’s mission: “Companies like Facebook and TikTok can’t keep hiding behind outsourcing to duck responsibility for the harm they help create. This work can – and must – be safer and sustainable. That means living wages, long-term employment contracts, humane production standards, and a real voice for workers.” The formation of the GTUACM marks a significant step towards achieving these goals and ensuring better working conditions for content moderators worldwide.