Meta has suspended a corporate initiative designed to monitor employee computer activity following significant internal backlash. The project, launched two months ago and titled the Model Capability Initiative, aimed to collect keystroke and mouse click data to refine artificial intelligence models.
Staff expressed immediate concern regarding the scope of the surveillance and the security of the gathered information. On Monday, Meta halted the project after discovering that some of the collected data was unintentionally accessible to internal staff. A company spokesperson confirmed the pause, noting an investigation is underway, though they stated there is currently no evidence of unauthorized access.
The suspension follows weeks of employee opposition, including a petition signed by nearly 2,000 workers requesting the program be canceled. While Meta previously offered employees short windows to opt-out of monitoring, staff labeled this a superficial gesture. Employees have cited a lack of consent and declining morale as central issues, exacerbated by recent large-scale layoffs and a massive pivot toward AI-focused projects.
