The team moderating content for Facebook suffered low pay, poor working conditions and alleged union-busting at training data company Sama's office in Nairobi, Kenya. 

TIME found that Kenyan employees for Sama receive a take-home wage equivalent to around USD 1.46 per hour after tax, had to work up to nine hours per day, were continuously monitored, and were measured against metrics for average time spent and quality. The metrics contradicted public statements by Facebook about not setting expectations on its contractors. 

According to TIME, at least two Sama content moderators resigned after being diagnosed with mental illnesses including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Former employee and whistleblower Daniel Motaung told TIME he had been unlawfuly fired for leading over 100 Sama workers in an attempted strike that aimed to secure better pay for staff.

In a blog post responding to TIME's investigation, Sama claimed its rate of pay was fair, arguing 'the article falsely alleges that Sama does not compensate its employees fairly'. Two weeks later the company said it would increase salaries by 30 to 50 percent.

Meta avoided commenting on Sama employment practices and said it had not made public its audits of Sama's Kenya office. 

Sama reputedly failed to confirm rumours that its managers had attempted to suppress unionisation efforts at its operation in Kenya in 2019.