Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is facing more allegations of ‘union busting’ and failing to notice evidence of sex trafficking and violence.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive, and other directors face a lawsuit from investors accusing them of not doing enough to stop sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram.
The derivative case, filed in Delaware Chancery Court on Monday, could result in Zuckerberg and others being made to pay for potentially breaching their duties.
Meta denied the claims, arguing they “mischaracterised” its efforts to spot such cases, though a 2021 ruling by the Texas Supreme court allowed three victims to sue the site over similar accusations.
The Facebook owner has also been struck with a court order from a Kenyan judge. Matthews Nduma, who on Tuesday temporarily blocked the laying off of 260 contracted content moderators.
Some 43 staff from contractor Sama filed a lawsuit against the social media firm last week, claiming it had unlawfully sacked them over their plans to unionise, with Tuesday’s move also barring it from outsourcing its content moderation on the continent.
Meta also faces lawyers in Berlin’s District Court next Tuesday, 28 March, where the German Environmental Aid will argue Facebook allows users to post discussing violence towards its staff members.
Legal scrutiny of Meta comes amid the firm’s ‘year of efficiency,’ as dubbed by Zuckerberg himself, which has so far seen it lay off thousands of staff and introduce a blue tick subscription charge.
The most recent round of layoffs was announced last week after Zuckerberg said Meta 'over-invested' during the pandemic-driven online boom.