Former Facebook Moderator Says in Class Action Lawsuit that Company Exposes Graphic Images

UPDATE 2: September 2020, the Facebook moderator class action settlement website is now active. Find out more about your rights by clicking here.

UPDATE: On May 12, 2020, a $52 million settlement has been reached in a Facebook class action lawsuit filed by moderators alleging the social network giant ignored workplace safety and allowed content moderators to see thousands of graphic images.

Facebook faces a class action lawsuit from a former content moderator, alleging that the social media company failed to protect moderators from psychological trauma caused by graphic images.

Plaintiff Selena Scola alleges in her class action lawsuit against Facebook Inc. and Pro Unlimited Inc. that the social media company and independent contractor failed to follow proper procedures to protect content moderators from the traumatic side effects of viewing graphic content.

Scola says she formerly worked for Facebook through Pro Unlimited as a content moderator and was constantly viewing content of graphic and violent acts including rapes, beheadings, murder, suicide, and child sexual abuse. She allegedly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from the violent images and videos she witnessed as a part of her job.

Repeated exposure to graphic content is reportedly a “well-documented” cause of negative effects such as PTSD. Scola alleges that her PTSD symptoms have persisted beyond her work for Facebook and can be triggered by things such as touching a mouse, seeing graphic content on TV, or recalling the traumatic content she viewed while working as a content moderator.

According to Scola’s complaint, Facebook had a number of procedures which aimed to protect content moderators from the emotional burden of constantly seeing violent and graphic content. These procedures included mandatory counseling and PTSD training. However, the company allegedly ignores these workplace standards at the expense of content moderators such as Scola.

“Instead, the multibillion ­dollar corporation affirmatively requires its content moderators to work under conditions known to cause and exacerbate psychological trauma,” the Facebook class action lawsuit claims. “By requiring its content moderators to work in dangerous conditions that cause debilitating physical and psychological harm, Facebook violates California law.”

Facebook’s director of corporate communications, Bett Thomson, recently told Law360 that the social media giant would be reviewing the claim and recognizes the emotional strain placed on content moderators.

“That is why we take the support of our content moderators incredibly seriously, starting with their training, the benefits they receive, and ensuring that every person reviewing Facebook content is offered psychological support and wellness resources,” Thomson said in her statement. “Facebook employees receive these in­house, and we also require companies that we partner with for content review to provide resources and psychological support, including onsite counseling — available at the location where the plaintiff worked — and other wellness resources like relaxation areas at many of our larger facilities.”

Scola seeks to represent a Class of former or current Facebook content moderators who have performed that moderating work within the last three years.

Scola is represented by Joseph R. Saveri, Steven N. Williams, Kyla J. Gibboney and V Chai Oliver Prentice of Joseph Saveri Law Firm Inc.; Korey A. Nelson, Lydia A. Wright and Amanda Klevorn of Burns Charest LLP; and William Most of the Law Office of William Most.

The Facebook Graphic Images Class Action Lawsuit is Scola v. Facebook Inc. and Pro Unlimited Inc., Case No. 18­CIV­0513, filed in Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Mateo.