Meta is facing growing internal anger. New steps aim to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the workplace. This includes watching employee activity on company devices. It also uses employee data to train AI models.
Meta told tens of thousands of US employees their work laptops would track keyboard strokes. They will also track mouse movements, clicks, and screen activity. The company says this helps train AI systems. The goal is to understand how employees work. But employees reacted strongly and quickly.
The new rules caused anger and confusion. Internal company sites were filled with angry comments. Many used laughing or rejecting emojis. This was reported by digitaltrends. The reaction was fast and strong.
No Option to Opt-Out
The new policy caused anger and confusion. Internal company social platforms filled with angry comments. Many users posted angry emojis. This was reported by digitaltrends and seen by العربيه Business.
An engineering manager asked about opting out of tracking. Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth, gave a clear answer. He said it is not possible to disable monitoring on company devices.
These steps are happening with other AI changes at Meta. Using AI tools is now linked to job performance reviews. There are also mandatory training weeks called “AI Transformation Weeks”. Internal dashboards show how much AI code employees use daily.
Some employees created AI agents. These agents manage other AI tools they use daily. Some described this as a loop with no end.
Layoffs Increased Tension
The problem got worse. Reports on April 17 said Meta might lay off about 10% of its staff. This is nearly 8,000 workers. The first wave could start May 20.
The timing of layoffs and new AI policies increased worries. Many employees feel they are training AI systems. These systems might replace their jobs in the future.
Employees described the company mood as very frustrating. Some websites count down the days to the layoffs. They also share jokes and messages showing growing frustration.
Zuckerberg Defends the Move
CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended data collection. He said in a meeting that the goal is not to watch employees. It is to teach AI systems how smart people use computers for tasks.
He added that AI is one of the most competitive fields ever. His words did not comfort worried employees. They are concerned about their future jobs.
What Happens at Meta Could Repeat
Experts think Meta's situation is not unique. It might be an early sign for other big tech companies. This could happen in the coming years.
Companies like Microsoft, Coinbase, and Block are changing their businesses around AI. Some have had layoffs and internal tensions too.
But Meta is doing all these changes at once. They are training staff on AI. They are watching digital behavior. They link job reviews to AI tools. They are also reducing staff numbers.
Meta convinced billions of users to share data. Now, it faces a bigger challenge. It needs to convince its own employees to do the same.