Content moderators who do the gruelling work of removing harmful content uploaded to social media platforms have formed a new coalition to fight for better working conditions. The Global Trade Union Alliance of Content Moderators (GTUACM) unites unions in countries including Ghana, Kenya, Turkey and Colombia to bargain with tech companies, where firms like Meta and TikTok owner ByteDance often outsource moderation. Many moderators suffer ‘extreme mental health consequences’ from viewing streams of traumatic content. They face intensive surveillance, and fear repercussions if they speak out. Moderators have accused Big Tech firms of dodging accountability for this harm through outsourcing, and hope to hold them responsible through strength in numbers.
The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund will divest from its second Israeli company after adopting tougher rules on businesses aiding the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip. Norway’s $1.7 trillion endowment will relinquish shares in Paz Retail and Energy, which provide infrastructure supplying fuel to Israeli settlements in occupied territory. ‘The settlements have been established in violation of international law,’ said the fund’s ethics council, adding that in aiding supply to the settlements, ‘Paz is contributing to their perpetuation’.
