Spanish Court Decides Facebook Moderator Experienced Job-Related Mental Trauma

 Spanish Court Rules in Favor of Facebook Content Moderator in Mental Trauma Case

A Spanish court has ruled in favor of a former Facebook content moderator, recognizing that the moderator's sick leave was a result of job-related mental trauma. The moderator worked for CCC Barcelona Digital Services, a part of Telus International, which is one of Facebook owner Meta's outsourced providers. Telus International expressed disappointment with the ruling and announced plans to appeal, while Meta declined to comment on the ongoing case.

The court's decision marks the first instance in Spain where a content moderator's sick leave has been acknowledged as a consequence of their work. The moderator, employed from 2018 to 2020, had to view distressing content, including self-mutilations, beheadings, torture, and suicides. The court rejected CCC's lawsuit filed in 2022 challenging the social security agency's determination that the moderator's mental health condition resulted from job-related factors.

According to the court's Jan. 12 ruling, the worker experienced severe anxiety, panic attacks, isolation, dysphagia, and thanatophobia, leading to an incapacity to work. Francesc Feliu, the worker's lawyer representing multiple current and former content moderators at CCC, highlighted the emotional and psychological impact of the job. Martha Dark, director at Foxglove, a tech-justice advocacy group, praised the court's decision, emphasizing the need for Meta to compensate the ex-moderator and ensure mental health care and safe workplaces for content moderators worldwide.

This ruling follows Facebook's 2020 settlement with U.S. content moderators facing mental health issues and a recent case in Germany where a moderator was placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation after advocating for better working conditions.