The Cleaners

This documentary delves into the hidden world of content moderators, the unseen individuals responsible for policing the internet's vast digital landscape. It exposes the immense psychological toll and ethical complexities faced by these workers who are tasked with filtering out harmful and disturbing content from social media platforms. The film offers a stark look at the human cost behind the algorithms and the curated online experiences we often take for granted.

The Cleaners received widespread critical acclaim for its timely and impactful exploration of a crucial yet overlooked aspect of the digital age. Critics lauded its investigative depth, its humanizing portrayal of the content moderators, and its thought-provoking examination of the ethical responsibilities of technology companies. The film was praised for shedding light on the invisible labor that underpins our online lives.

• A powerful and essential documentary about the unseen labor that shapes our online reality.

• Effectively highlights the psychological toll on content moderators and the ethical quandaries of Big Tech.

• Visually compelling and deeply disturbing, it forces viewers to confront the dark side of the internet.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciate the film's important subject matter and its ability to expose the hidden realities of online content moderation. Many found it eye-opening and crucial for understanding the broader implications of social media. Some viewers noted the heavy and disturbing nature of the content, but overwhelmingly agreed on its significance.

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. Won awards at various film festivals including the Zurich Film Festival and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

The film's directors, Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck, initially planned to make a film about the effects of the internet on society, but they shifted their focus when they learned about the existence of large-scale content moderation centers.