More than 2,000 content moderators employed by Telus International in Barcelona will be laid off as part of a social plan announced due to the termination of their contract with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

The announcement was made during a meeting with employee organizations, according to the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union.

The layoffs, affecting all employees engaged in content moderation for Meta in Barcelona, were confirmed by CCOO, which stated that fourteen agreements were reached to ensure the highest legal compensation for affected individuals.

The layoffs will be staggered over the months of May, June, July, and September 2025, as per an agreement with another union, UGT.

The affected employees are expected to receive compensation equivalent to 33 days of pay for each year worked.

CCOO also emphasized the need for more professional standards in content moderation, reflecting on the critical role these workers play in maintaining community standards online.

The decision to lay off employees follows the cancellation of the contract between Telus International and Meta, which was announced by various Spanish unions in early April, raising concerns about the potential impact on around 2,000 workers.

Although the exact number of layoffs was initially unclear, Telus International confirmed that discussions were ongoing and that it continues to work with Meta from other locations.

A Telus spokesperson stated that supporting impacted employees is a priority, offering comprehensive assistance, including relocation opportunities wherever possible.

Media inquiries to Meta went unanswered, but the company previously asserted that the conclusion of the contract with Telus does not reduce its efforts in content moderation, maintaining a global workforce of approximately 40,000 individuals dedicated to security, including 15,000 content moderators.

The Barcelona site had been functioning under the name CCC Barcelona Digital Services since 2018, with moderators overseeing content in multiple languages, including Spanish, Catalan, French, Dutch, Hebrew, and Portuguese.

In January, Meta announced significant changes to its content moderation practices and marked the end of fact-checking in the United States, justifying adjustments by stating that 'too much content was being censored that should not have been.' These adjustments were perceived as a shift in response to external criticisms, particularly from former President Donald Trump, regarding the company’s moderation policies.

Meta has invested billions in recent years to improve the management of sensitive content, yet the changes implemented early this year signal a potential retrenchment in its approach to controlling harmful or inappropriate material on its platforms.