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Kenyan workers training Meta’s AI glasses say they see users’ most intimate moments

Tech • 1h ago
Kenyan workers training Meta’s AI glasses say they see users’ most intimate moments
**The Hidden Faces Behind Your Smart Glasses** Imagine putting on a pair of smart glasses that can translate languages, capture hands-free photos, and describe your surroundings. Sounds like science fiction, right? But what happens to the data captured by these futuristic devices? A recent investigation has shed light on the lives of Kenyan workers hired by a local outsourcing firm to train Meta's AI systems using sensitive footage recorded by users of the company's Ray-Ban smart glasses. **The Invisible Labourers of Nairobi** These workers, mostly in their 20s and 30s, are employed by Sama, a Kenyan firm that specializes in data annotation services for tech giants like Meta and OpenAI. Their job is to review and label the footage captured by users of the smart glasses to improve the system's performance. But what they see is not just mundane household scenes. They often encounter sensitive material, including intimate moments that users may not even be aware are being recorded. **The Dark Side of Wearable Technology** One Sama worker revealed that they've seen footage of individuals using the bathroom, getting undressed, or even watching porn. Another contractor claimed to have reviewed a video where a person set their glasses down on a bedside table, only to capture their partner undressing, unaware they were being recorded. The lack of transparency around these devices is staggering. Retailers in Europe often provide inconsistent information about whether data captured by the glasses remains on the device or is transmitted to Meta's servers. **Cross-Border Data Transfers and Labour Rights** The investigation raises serious concerns about data protection and cross-border data transfers. Sama requires strict confidentiality agreements that limit what employees can publicly disclose. But the accounts published by the Swedish newspapers suggest that these workers are deeply exposed to sensitive information, often without their knowledge or consent. The psychological toll on these workers cannot be overstated. They are the invisible faces behind Meta's push into wearable artificial intelligence. **Conclusion** The story of the Kenyan workers hired by Sama to train Meta's AI systems using sensitive footage is a stark reminder of the hidden human labour behind our increasingly automated world. As we continue to wear smart glasses and other wearable devices, it's essential to consider the lives of those who review and label our most intimate moments. The implications are far-reaching, and it's time for tech giants like Meta to take responsibility for the data they collect and the lives they impact.
Source: Original Article. AI-enhanced version.