Meta cuts Sama contract after workers report viewing intimate Ray-Ban Meta footage
Meta ended its contract with Sama, a Kenya-based data annotation firm, after workers reported viewing sensitive footage captured by Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. In February 2026, Sama employees told journalists from Svenska Dagbladet, Göteborgs-Posten, and freelance reporter Naipanoi Lepapa that they were assigned to annotate video, image, and speech data for Meta's AI systems and had seen users changing clothes, having sex, and using the toilet. Approximately two months later, Meta terminated the agreement, affecting 1,108 workers. A Meta spokesperson stated the decision was because Sama "don't meet our standards," though Sama claims it was never notified of any failure. Sama workers believe the contract was cut in retaliation for speaking out. Sama confirmed the engagement is ending but declined to comment on specific client decisions.
Key facts
- Meta cut its contract with Sama after workers reported viewing private footage from Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
- The reports emerged in February 2026 via Swedish newspapers Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten and journalist Naipanoi Lepapa.
- Sama is a Kenya-headquartered firm contracted by Meta for data annotation, including video, image, and speech annotation for AI systems.
- Workers saw footage of users changing clothes, having sex, and using the toilet.
- Meta ended the contract about two months after the reports, affecting 1,108 workers.
- A Meta spokesperson said Sama did not meet Meta's standards; Sama disputes this.
- Sama workers believe the contract was terminated because they spoke out.
- Sama confirmed the engagement is ending but did not comment on specific client processes.
Entities
Institutions
- Meta
- Sama
- BBC
- Svenska Dagbladet
- Göteborgs-Posten
- Ars Technica
Locations
- Kenya
- Sweden