Over 2,000 Workers Laid Off in Barcelona as Meta Ends Contract with Telus
A major workforce shake-up is unfolding in Barcelona after Telus International, a Canadian company managing online content for Meta’s platforms, announced the termination of more than 2,000 jobs. The announcement, made on Monday, follows Meta’s decision to end its long-standing contract with the firm.
The affected workers were responsible for moderating posts on Facebook and Instagram—jobs that involved filtering out harmful, false, or offensive content. But with Meta pulling the plug on the agreement, Telus is wrapping up its operations in that area, according to Spain’s CCOO union.
In total, 2,059 jobs will be lost at Barcelona Digital Services, the local branch of Telus. The union said an initial deal had been reached to ensure those laid off would receive the highest possible compensation under Spanish labor laws.
Telus began supporting Meta’s content moderation efforts back in 2018, playing a critical role in helping the tech giant manage the massive flow of content on its social platforms. However, recent shifts in Meta’s approach have changed the landscape.
Meta has been cutting back on third-party moderation services, particularly in the United States, where it has scrapped its traditional fact-checking teams. Instead, the company plans to use a community-based system, similar to the one on X (formerly Twitter), to flag questionable posts.
Mark Zuckerberg has said the previous system of fact-checking became too politically divisive, especially in the U.S., and argued it created more mistrust than clarity.
As part of its evolving strategy, Meta also announced that it will no longer proactively search for content that violates its rules. Instead, it will rely on user reports to trigger reviews—marking a major shift in how moderation is handled across its platforms.
Meanwhile, professional fact-checkers and partner organizations, like AFP, continue to provide verification services for Meta in several regions around the world.
For now, the focus in Barcelona is on helping displaced workers navigate what comes next, with Telus promising support and potential relocation options for some.
