Sheryl Sandberg Sanctioned for Deleting Emails - Meta Lawsuit

Sheryl Sandberg Sanctioned for Deleting Emails in Cambridge Analytica Case

A Delaware court has issued sanctions against Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO and board member of Meta, following allegations of deleted emails pertaining to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal.

Shareholder Lawsuit and Allegations

This legal action stems from a case initiated by Meta shareholders against Sandberg and Jeff Zients, another former Meta board member, late in the previous year. The plaintiffs contend that both individuals utilized personal email accounts for communications concerning a 2018 lawsuit.

The 2018 lawsuit accused Facebook’s leadership of failing to uphold their legal and fiduciary responsibilities by inadequately safeguarding user privacy. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that Sandberg and Zients intentionally deleted emails from their personal inboxes, despite explicit court instructions to preserve them.

Judge's Findings

The Delaware judge presiding over the case found the accusations presented by the plaintiffs to be credible. The decision highlighted the discovery of Sandberg’s personal Gmail account, operated under an alias.

This account was reportedly used for discussions related to matters relevant to the claims and defenses within the ongoing legal action. The judge noted that evasive responses during questioning suggested a deliberate selection of emails for deletion, rather than the use of an automatic deletion feature.

Impact of the Sanctions

The sanctions imposed by the judge elevate the evidentiary standard required for Sandberg’s affirmative defense. She must now substantiate her defense with “clear and convincing” evidence.

This is a more rigorous standard than the previous requirement of a “preponderance” of evidence, making it more challenging to successfully defend her position. The plaintiffs have also been awarded reimbursement for certain expenses incurred during the legal proceedings.

Sandberg's Response

A spokesperson for Sandberg released a statement to TechCrunch, asserting that the plaintiffs’ claims are without merit. The spokesperson emphasized that all official work-related emails were preserved on Facebook’s servers.

The Core of the Dispute

The underlying issue revolves around allegations that Meta officials violated a 2012 order from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This order mandated that the company cease collecting and sharing users’ personal data without explicit consent.

It is alleged that Facebook subsequently sold this data to commercial entities, including the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Furthermore, accusations were made regarding the removal of privacy setting disclosures required by the FTC order.

Previous Settlements

In 2019, Meta reached a settlement with the FTC, agreeing to pay a $5 billion penalty to resolve charges of violating the 2012 order. The company has also faced financial penalties from regulatory bodies in Europe.

Update: A statement from a spokesperson for Sandberg has been added for clarity.