... Launched on May 28, 2025, ‘Scroll. Click. Suffer.’ is Equidem’s in-depth investigation into the hidden workforce behind AI and social media—data labellers and content moderators. Based on interviews with 113 workers across Colombia, Kenya, and the Philippines, the report exposes the extreme occupational, psychological, sexual, and economic harms faced by those moderating violent content and training AI models for platforms like Meta, TikTok, and ChatGPT.

From PTSD and substance dependency to union-busting and exploitative contracts, it reveals an industry architecture that normalises harm and conceals abuse. Tech giants outsource risk down opaque, informal supply chains, while workers are silenced by NDAs, punished for speaking out, and denied basic protections.

Grounded in worker testimonies and legal analysis, the report outlines a clear roadmap for reform—and calls on lead firms, investors, governments, and the ILO to centre the rights of digital workers...

[Equidem shared the reports findings with Bytedance, Meta, OpenAI, and Remotasks. ByteDance did not respond to Equidem. Meta said it takes “the support of content reviewers seriously” and that it “requires all the companies” it workers with to “provide 24/7 on-site support with trained practitioners” and other safety measures. OpenAI said it conducted an investigation and found no evidence to the support the claims. Remotasks also outlined safety measures in place, including a “24/7 anonymous hotline”, and noted “ongoing improvements” they claim the firm has undertaken. The responses can be read in more detail in the report]