A 60 Minutes report exposes the exploitation of Kenyan workers by major American tech companies outsourcing AI data labeling tasks. These workers, often highly educated but unemployed, are paid as little as $2 an hour to perform grueling and emotionally damaging work, including reviewing graphic content. The report highlights the significant ethical concerns, including unsafe working conditions, unfair wages, and lack of job security, alongside the legal loopholes that allow such practices. Outsourcing companies act as intermediaries, shielding the tech giants from direct responsibility. The piece concludes by examining the broader systemic issues, such as weak Kenyan labor laws and the country’s desperate need for jobs, which contribute to this exploitation. The workers’ struggles underscore the human cost of technological advancements.
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