Content moderators, who are responsible for combing through harmful material uploaded to online platforms, have formed a global trade union alliance to fight for better working conditions and improved mental health support. The Global Trade Union Alliance of Content Moderators (GTUACM) announced its formation in Nairobi, Kenya, with the goal of "holding Big Tech responsible" for neglecting workers' issues.

The alliance, which includes unions from Ghana, Kenya, Turkey, Poland, Colombia, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Philippines, aims to provide a global platform for content moderators to bargain with tech companies, coordinate collective campaigns, and research occupational health. The move comes as content moderators face low wages, trauma, and lack of union representation across the industry.

Content moderators are often exposed to violent videos, hate speech, child-abuse imagery, and other harmful content without adequate support, leading to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and severe mental health consequences. Michał Szmagaj, a former Meta content moderator who is now helping workers to unionize in Poland, described the devastating toll of reviewing thousands of horrific videos each day, saying, "We need stable employment, fair treatment, and real access to mental health support during work hours."

The GTUACM's formation is a significant development in the ongoing struggle for better working conditions in the tech industry. Companies like Meta, Bytedance, and Alphabet often outsource content moderation to contract workers, who are then expected to analyze and flag harmful content without adequate support or protection. The alliance's efforts may lead to improved working conditions, better mental health support, and greater accountability from tech giants.

The US is notably absent from the list of countries represented in the alliance, but Benjamin Parton, Head of UNI Global Union's ICTS Sector, said that US unions will be involved in the effort, working closely with member unions to demand justice in the Big Tech supply chain. The Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU) has also thrown its support behind the alliance, with General Secretary Benson Okwaro saying, "We welcome investors to Kenya to invest in this sector, but it must not be against the health of workers in this country."

The formation of the GTUACM comes as several lawsuits are pending against tech companies, including Meta and TikTok, over psychological distress inflicted on content moderators. A group of former content moderators who flagged graphic and violent videos on TikTok has also filed a lawsuit against their former contractor, Telus Digital, over claims that they were fired for trying to unionize and improve their working conditions.

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, emphasized the need for tech companies to take responsibility for the harm they help create, saying, "Companies like Facebook and TikTok can't keep hiding behind outsourcing to duck responsibility for the harm they help create. This work can – and must – be safer and sustainable. That means living wages, long-term employment contracts, humane production standards, and a real voice for workers."

The GTUACM's efforts are expected to have far-reaching implications for the tech industry, as content moderators around the world demand better working conditions, improved mental health support, and greater accountability from tech giants. As the alliance grows and gains momentum, it may lead to significant changes in the way tech companies approach content moderation and worker welfare.