THE OVERSIGHT LAB LODGES FORMAL REQUEST TO THE OFFICE OF THE DATA
PROTECTION COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE RAY-BAN META GLASSES PRIVACY
VIOLATIONS; DECRIES HARASSMENT AND WORKER RETALIATION<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Oversight Lab has officially petitioned the Office of the
Data Protection Commissioner to investigate privacy concerns raised by the Ray-Ban Meta
Glasses under Section 8 and 9 of the Data Protection Act.
This follows a chilling report that footage collected the world over via the wearable glasses
ends up in Nairobi where Kenyan workers are tasked with reviewing and labelling the data,
what they describe as a horrific and traumatizing experience. The investigation by
G\u00f6teborgs-Posten, Svenska Dagbladet and Naipanoi Lepapa details that the data labellers
and annotators at Samasource Kenya EPZ Limited, were exposed to disturbing private
recordings showing bathroom visits, intimate moments, bank card details, pornography,
conversation on crime, violence and many more.
In the letter dated 6th March 2026, The Oversight Lab has raised the alarm on the possible
use of the glasses for mass surveillance and non-consensual recording of intimate images
and videos as highlighted by the recent revelations of a pick-up con artist who lured Kenyan
women to his house and recorded their interactions without their consent using the Ray-Ban
Meta glasses. The Lab also protests the unlawful processing of personal data to train Meta
AI and the exploitation of data labellers and annotators trainig the AI, seeking urgent
confirmation from the Data Commissioner on whether the regulator will carry out the
investigation as requested.
Mercy Mutemi, the Executice Director at The Oversight Lab states:
\u201cWe are deeply concerned by the development of harmful technology through exploitation
of vulnerable communities. Just as we saw in the Worldcoin case, Kenya is once again being
used as a training ground for exploitative and harmful AI. We are especially concerned for<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE OVERSIGHT LAB
Shaping Africa\u2019s Digital Future<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Page 2 of 2
the welfare of the data labellers and annotators who are exposed to traumatizing content
from the Ray-Ban Meta glasses without adequate occupational health protections. We
applaud the workers for speaking up as they exercised their constitutional right and duty to
whistle-blow the violation of rights. Any harassment or worker retaliation by Meta and Sama
will be met with the necessary legal action as we are a country that protects the right to
freedom of expression.\u201d
Allegations of exploitation of workers in the advancement of Meta\u2019s products are not new.
Meta and Sama have been facing human trafficking claims by former Facebook Content
Moderators at the Kenya Employment and Labour Relations court. The moderators claim to
have been deceptively recruited to clean up Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram,
Messenger and WhatsApp) under exploitative working conditions. In those cases, the Court
of Appeal held that Meta can be sued in Kenya. The cases are awaiting trial.
Tech workers have also united under the Africa Tech Workers Movement to protest the
Kenyan government\u2019s complicity in the exploitation of workers by AI companies. A separate
case filed by The Oversight Lab and the Africa Tech Workers Movement challenges
proposed amendments to the Employment Act providing immunity to tech companies like
Meta for violation of the rights of workers, and the failure by the Senate to conduct public
participation in consideration of those amendments. A judgement in that case is expected
on 19th March 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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