Analysis: Is digital colonialism a modern continuation of imperialism?

Is digital colonialism a modern continuation of imperialism?

More than 140 former Facebook moderators in Kenya have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., alleging serious emotional harm and unfair labor practices. The moderators, who were hired through external contractors such as Sama and Majorel, were tasked with reviewing content that was considered violent and indecent, including scenes of murder, torture, and violence. Their work was critical to Facebook’s operations, ensuring that harmful content was removed to maintain the safety and reputation of the platform.

But moderators have complained of appalling working conditions, including low pay, inadequate psychological support and a toxic workplace. Despite their repeated complaints about the emotional toll of their duties, little has been done to alleviate their suffering. Moderators also say they are often forced to sign confidentiality agreements that prevent them from speaking about their experiences.

The allegations allege that moderators were exposed to content that caused anxiety and depression. Some moderators described nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and suicidal thoughts, while others said they were briefly fired after raising concerns about their mental health. The case has sparked a global debate about the ethical responsibilities of technology companies and their reliance on outsourced labor in low-income countries.

The issue of digital colonialism has become a hot topic in Africa in recent years. As Silicon Valley tech giants expand their presence across the continent, their promises of economic growth and technological advancement have often masked a darker reality: exploitation, surveillance, and systemic injustice. The fact that more than 140 Kenyan Facebook moderators have been diagnosed with severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after being exposed to brutal and violent content highlights this inequality. This case not only exposes the exploitative practices of tech corporations, but also reveals how digital colonialism operates as a modern-day extension of imperialism.

Digital colonialism

The injustices faced by Kenyan moderators are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a larger systemic problem: digital colonialism. Tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon have established themselves in Africa under the guise of expanding digital reach and fostering economic growth. But their actions reflect traditional colonial practices, in which Western countries have extracted resources, labor, and wealth from colonized territories, leaving economic and social devastation in their wake.

Technology companies dominate Africa's digital infrastructure, including software, data storage, and communications. They control not only the means of communication but also the flow of information, paving the way for a virtual monopoly on the digital space.

Platforms like Facebook are monetizing user data, reaping huge profits through targeted advertising and predictive analytics. In the process, users' privacy is being violated and African users are being turned into commodities in an exploitative economic system.

Kenyan content moderators are a prime example of how tech giants exploit their workforce in the Global South. They are paid far less than their Western counterparts and work under a heavy psychological burden to maintain Facebook's reputation, without adequate support or recognition.

The dominance of online advertising by platforms like Facebook and Google is undermining local media outlets, siphoning off significant advertising revenues, and undermining the sustainability of independent journalism. Similarly, streaming services like Netflix are alienating viewers from local television and film industries, undermining cultural sovereignty.

In November 2024, Google set aside a $6 million fund to mitigate the impact of its online advertising monopoly on the revenue streams of local publishers in South Africa.

These exploitative systems are reinforcing dependency, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement, and turning African countries into consumers rather than creators of digital wealth.

The Israeli-Palestinian issue

The injustice of digital colonialism is even more apparent when viewed from the perspective of global geopolitics. Silicon Valley’s tech giants are not neutral actors. They are deeply entangled in the political and military goals of Western countries, especially the United States. This is particularly evident in their role in supporting Israel’s artificial intelligence-based surveillance systems and military operations against the Palestinians.

US technology companies are providing the Israeli military with advanced artificial intelligence systems, predictive analytics tools, and cloud computing infrastructure that allow it to monitor and target Palestinian infrastructure, such as mosques, educational institutions, and other critical civilian sites. These systems are being used not only for military operations but also to monitor and suppress dissent in the occupied territories.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been accused of systematically silencing Palestinian voices through algorithmic suppression and unfair content moderation. Palestinian activists and journalists have repeatedly reported having their accounts suspended or posts removed without explanation. At the same time, hate speech and incitement to violence against Palestinians are widespread and unchecked.

The complicity of big tech companies in Israel's actions should be viewed as strategic, not coincidental. The technological dominance of these companies serves US geopolitical interests, strengthens Western control over digital infrastructures around the world, and supports allies like Israel in maintaining oppressive regimes.

Demanding accountability and justice

Governments, civil society organizations, and global regulators must address the systemic problems that underlie digital colonialism.

The exploitation of Kenyan content moderators and the complicity of tech companies in geopolitical injustices point to a clear conclusion: Big tech companies must be held accountable. Governments, civil society organizations, and global regulators must address the systemic problems that underlie digital colonialism. Solidarity movements, activists, journalists, and civil society must work together across borders to challenge the unchecked power of tech monopolies.

Africans need to invest in building their own digital infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign technology monopolies. Furthermore, international accountability mechanisms are lacking. There is an urgent need for a global framework to monitor and punish tech companies involved in exploitative practices and human rights abuses.

The plight of Kenyan Facebook moderators is more than a simple labor dispute. It is a small example of the broader injustices wrought by digital colonialism. The exploitation of African labor, the monopolization of data, and the complicity of tech giants in geopolitical oppression are all manifestations of a system that prioritizes profit and power over human dignity.

To end digital colonialism, we must reimagine the global digital economy based on principles of equality, transparency, and justice. Building a truly inclusive and just digital future requires hearing and addressing the voices of Kenyan moderators, Palestinian activists, and the many others who have suffered from the imperialism of big tech companies.