Meta Suspends Employee Computer Usage Tracking Program
Meta has suspended a recently launched company-wide initiative to monitor employees' computer usage after facing significant internal dissatisfaction.
The program, initiated just two months ago, aimed to collect data on how employees interacted with their computers, including mouse clicks and keystrokes, to support the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
From the outset, the initiative provoked concern among employees who were to have their online activities at work tracked and recorded. There were also apprehensions regarding the destination of the collected data and the measures in place to protect it.
Meta decided to halt the program on Monday after discovering that some of the gathered data may have been accessible to any employee within the company.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the program, internally referred to as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), is currently "on pause for now" as the company investigates the matter.
"We have no indication at this time that any data was improperly accessed by Meta employees," the spokesperson added.
Employee Backlash and Company Response
The suspension follows weeks of backlash from Meta employees, a company led by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, regarding the tracking of their work activities.
In response to employee concerns, which included a petition signed by nearly 2,000 Meta workers demanding the cancellation of the MCI program, Meta initially offered employees the option to opt out of tracking for up to 30 minutes at a time.
"That was just an attempt at damage control," a current employee told the BBC, requesting anonymity.
Another Meta employee, also speaking anonymously, noted that while many technical staff are supportive of enhancing AI models and increasing competitiveness in a sector dominated by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI, the mandatory nature of the tracking without consent caused significant frustration.
"I've never seen morale here so bad," the employee said.
Broader Employee Discontent Amid Organizational Changes
Alongside the tracking program controversy, employee dissatisfaction has intensified due to extensive layoffs and the reorganization of many roles around AI-focused projects. Meta is investing up to $145 billion (£109 billion) in AI initiatives this year.
Reports indicate that employees have openly criticized management during internal meetings concerning AI-driven changes, as noted in a Wired report.
Meta has a longstanding reputation in the tech industry for frequently restructuring internal teams to align with new projects. However, a former employee described the current AI-related changes and spending as akin to "chasing your tail."
"The direction this company is going in is depressing," the former employee said. "Exhausting and depressing."
