"Spanish court rules Facebook moderator suffered work-related mental trauma", 18 Jan 2024

A Spanish court has ruled a former Facebook moderator's mental health was damaged by his work reviewing graphic content such as beheadings, in a case that could have implications for how social media firms work with moderators.

The Barcelona court, upholding a decision by Spain's social security agency, said the psychiatric treatment the subcontracted moderator required was due to work-related issues, meaning he is entitled to extra compensation for sick leave.

The moderator was employed between 2018 and 2020 by CCC Barcelona Digital Services, part of Telus International, which is one of Facebook owner Meta's outsourced providers.

Telus said it was disappointed by the ruling and would appeal.

A Meta spokesperson declined to comment as the company "is not party to the case in question".

It is the first time in Spain that a court has recognised a content moderator's sick leave was caused by their job, said Francesc Feliu, the worker's lawyer who is also representing around 20 other former and current content moderators at CCC on similar legal grounds...

CCC filed a lawsuit in 2022 seeking to overturn the social security agency's decision that the moderator's mental health condition was the result of his work.

In his Jan. 12 ruling, seen by Reuters, Judge Jesus Fuertes rejected CCC's claim...

Martha Dark, director at London-based tech-justice advocacy group Foxglove, said the court was "100% right to recognise the work of keeping Facebook safe causes mental health illness"...

"They must also be forced to provide ongoing real mental health care and safe workplaces for the tens of thousands of workers doing this work around the world."

In 2020, Facebook agreed a settlement with U.S. content moderators suffering mental health issues. Last year, a moderator in Germany was put on paid leave pending an internal investigation after he called for an improvement in working conditions.