Meta faces internal revolt over mandatory AI surveillance tool
Workers in the US and UK are resisting the Model Capability Initiative, a keystroke-tracking software, with some delaying installation and others organising for collective bargaining rights.
Meta employees across the United States and United Kingdom are mobilising against a mandatory software programme that records keystrokes and mouse activity to train artificial intelligence models. The internal backlash has intensified following a post by an engineer, which was viewed by nearly 20,000 colleagues, expressing concerns over privacy invasion and the non-consensual extraction of human data for AI training.
The software, known as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), began installation on US employee laptops last month. According to reports cited by Reuters, the tool captures screen activity, including mouse movements and navigation patterns, to gather real-world examples of computer usage. This approach contrasts with industry norms, where competitors developing agentic AI models typically rely on volunteers, often paid, to record such data.
The initiative has become a primary driver of what current and former employees describe as record-low morale in US offices. An internal post highlighted a degradation in corporate culture over the past five years, citing layoffs, budget cuts, and increased intensity as contributing factors. The engineer described the surveillance tool as a microcosm of the broader AI movement, raising questions about the norms being established regarding employee treatment and technological application.
In the UK, the programme is fueling a significant unionisation effort supported by United Tech and Allied Workers. Eleanor Payne, a representative for the union, identified workplace surveillance as the number one issue for staff, describing the situation as a breakdown of trust. Although only US employees are currently subject to tracking, UK workers fear potential expansion and are leveraging new laws that have eased the process for forming labour unions.
Resistance within the company has taken various forms. In California and New York, workers have distributed flyers in communal areas, while some employees are quietly delaying the installation of the software, resulting in persistent notification prompts. Meta has reportedly removed some protest posters from office walls and declined to comment on the allegations. The unrest comes as Meta prepares for upcoming layoffs that will reduce its workforce by 10 percent, potentially impacting its ability to enforce the rollout.
