Meta has scaled back its controversial employee-monitoring initiative following weeks of criticism from staff, introducing new controls that allow workers to temporarily opt out of activity tracking on company devices.
According to an internal memo, employees can now pause data collection for up to 30 minutes at a time and may also request full exemptions from the monitoring program. The move comes after widespread concerns over privacy, workplace surveillance, and the company’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence development.
The initiative, known as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), was introduced earlier this year to help train Meta’s AI systems by collecting real-world examples of how employees use computers. The tool records activities such as keystrokes and mouse clicks, prompting concerns among workers who argued the monitoring was intrusive and excessive.
When the program was first announced, Meta said the data would be used solely to improve AI agents designed to assist users with everyday computer tasks. The company also stated that safeguards were in place to protect sensitive information.
However, the announcement triggered significant internal opposition. More than 1,500 employees reportedly signed a petition objecting to the tracking system, with some workers describing the practice as invasive and unsettling.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for employees, as Meta continues to undergo major workforce reductions. The company has laid off approximately 2,000 workers this year and previously announced plans to cut around 10% of its workforce, affecting roughly 8,000 employees.
Some staff members expressed concerns that the monitoring initiative reflected the company’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence, while others worried about the implications for privacy and workplace autonomy.
In the memo, reportedly authored by Stephane Kasriel, a vice president within Meta’s Superintelligence Labs division, the company acknowledged employee concerns and outlined several adjustments to the program. These changes include improvements designed to reduce the tool’s impact on laptop battery life and internet data usage.
The update follows complaints from employees working remotely who reported unusually high data consumption and performance issues linked to the software.
Kasriel stated that while Meta remains confident in the privacy protections built into the system, the company recognized concerns about personal data, device performance, battery life, and the desire for greater control over when monitoring occurs.
The revised policy represents a significant concession by Meta as technology companies continue to balance AI development ambitions with employee privacy expectations. The debate also highlights broader concerns across the tech industry about workplace surveillance and the growing role of artificial intelligence in corporate operations.
