Over 2,000 Facebook and Instagram Content Moderators to Lose Jobs

Meta‘s decision to end its contract with Telus International has led to one of the largest layoffs in Barcelona’s tech sector. A total of 2,059 workers, nearly the entire team responsible for moderating content on Facebook and Instagram, will leave their positions at the Torre Glòries office. The company cited organisational and productivity reasons following Meta’s shift in how it manages content moderation.

Only around 50 staff members, whose roles are unrelated to moderation, will stay on.

Agreement Signed with Unions and Government

The layoff deal, officially an Expediente de Regulación de Empleo (ERE) or Collective Redundancy Plan, was signed by Telus International and workers’ unions with the support of the Catalan government’s labour department. The agreement provides 33 days of compensation per year worked, capped at 24 months’ salary, similar to terms for unfair dismissal in Spain.

The total cost of the layoff package is estimated at €22 million.

Departures will begin May 22 and continue until September, but affected employees have already been on paid leave since early April. Those unable to take advantage of the leave will receive an additional bonus.

Workers Approve Deal with Strong Support

After a preliminary agreement was reached last Wednesday, nearly 96% of employees voted in favour of the final terms through an online system. The deal also includes a job placement program, giving laid-off workers priority for any new roles at Telus International for the next two years.

End of an Era for Outsourced Content Moderation

This large-scale exit marks the end of a major chapter in digital content moderation in Europe. Meta has not revealed how it will reorganise these services, but the move is widely seen as part of a larger strategy shift. It suggests a turn away from outsourced, human-led moderation toward automated solutions, possibly driven by artificial intelligence.

Renewed Focus on Working Conditions and Mental Health

The layoffs have reignited debate over the working conditions of content moderators, who often deal with violent, abusive, or disturbing content reported by platform users. Critics have long pointed to the psychological toll and the lack of job stability for workers in these outsourced roles.

From Human Moderation to AI: A Risky Transition?

With Meta cutting human content review teams, attention is turning to the increased reliance on AI moderation tools. While automation may reduce costs, questions remain about its accuracy, fairness, and ability to understand context, especially in sensitive or borderline cases.

Mian image: Main image: Wikipedia/Selbymay