Meta faces lawsuit alleging AI targeted workers who took FMLA leave

Meta is facing a federal lawsuit from 26 current and former employees who allege its internal AI systems were used to target workers with histories of medical, family, or disability leave during layoffs in May 2026. The suit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that when Meta cut about 8,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce, it relied on a “constellation of internal artificial-intelligence systems” to create a termination list. The plaintiffs argue the tools disproportionately affected workers with disabilities or those on protected leave, including leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Meta has denied the allegations, saying workforce decisions were made by human employees rather than automated systems. The case lands as Meta continues repeated job cuts while shifting its strategy toward AI development, and follows a separate lawsuit earlier in 2026 from former Meta director Nicolas Franchet alleging age discrimination in prior layoffs.