Meta Platforms has revised its employee-monitoring programme after facing internal criticism over privacy, surveillance and device performance concerns. The company has introduced new controls that give employees greater flexibility over how and when workplace activity data is collected.
Under the updated policy, employees using Meta’s AI-training monitoring software can temporarily pause data collection for up to 30 minutes when handling personal matters. The company has also created a limited exemption process that will allow certain employees to opt out of the programme altogether under specific conditions.
The changes come just months after Meta rolled out the monitoring initiative as part of its efforts to develop more advanced artificial intelligence systems. The software records how employees interact with their computers, including mouse movements, keyboard activity and navigation behaviour, with the aim of helping AI agents learn how people perform routine digital tasks.
The programme quickly sparked concerns among employees. Workers reportedly raised questions about privacy, the possibility of personal information being captured on work devices, increased internet bandwidth consumption and reduced laptop battery life. Employee discussions on internal forums gained significant traction, with concerns spreading across the organisation and prompting calls for greater transparency and control.
In response, Meta acknowledged employee feedback and said the new measures are intended to provide additional flexibility while maintaining the programme’s objectives. However, full opt-outs will remain limited to specific categories of workers, including some remote employees facing bandwidth challenges, those handling sensitive information and others who meet approved exemption criteria.
The controversy comes as Meta accelerates its AI ambitions. The company is investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and products, while simultaneously reshaping its workforce and organisational structure to support AI-focused priorities.
As organisations increasingly rely on workplace data to develop AI capabilities, issues such as transparency, consent, privacy and employee experience are becoming critical considerations. Meta’s experience underscores the need for companies to carefully balance business objectives with workforce expectations as AI becomes more deeply integrated into everyday work environments.
