The human cost behind the algorithm: Unmasking the exploitation of Kenyan workers by global AI companies
by admin on | 2025-09-02 17:45:49 Last Updated by admin on 2025-09-13 06:20:35
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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves, an unseen workforce in Kenya, termed as the “ghost workers”, pays the price for its advancements. Behind every filtered image or flagged video lies the psychological burden carried by content moderators and AI workers who endure exploitative conditions. This paper explores why Kenya became a hub for outsourcing of AI labour, the nature of work done in these AI companies, unveils the hidden reality of exploitation of digital labor through the lens of the Arendse v Meta case, exposing psychological harm, data misuse and the systemic disregard. It also examines the legal frameworks meant to protect these workers and the problem of enforcement. Furthermore, it highlights how Kenyan courts, through bold judicial intervention, have begun carving a path towards justice. It emphasizes the urgent need for stronger protections in Kenya’s evolving tech landscape. By integrating legal analysis with personal experiences, this paper argues that the future of AI must not be built on broken minds and ignored rights.
1.0 Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that emulate human cognitive abilities like reasoning and learning by employing mathematical models and logical operations. They analyze existing data to identify patterns for making predictions or initiating actions. The global AI market, valued at $136.55 billion in 2022, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3%, reaching 1.81 trillion by 2030. The rapid advancement of AI is transforming industries and reshaping the global economy, with AI- related technologies expected to contribute over $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to Price Water house Coopers( PWC). As the world marvels at the rapid evolution of AI, few pause to ask: Who trains these intelligent machines? Critics have analysed the supply chain of AI systems and have uncovered that one key aspect of this supply chain is a hidden army of AI data workers outsourced from the 4 global south countries like Kenya to perform the behind the scenes work of preparing the datasets used to train the machine learning algorithms that power the AI products. Unfortunately, behind the sleek facade of AI, a deeply exploitative global labour structure underpins its development, one that remains largely invisible to the public...read more
