Meta Sues Former Employee Over Memoir 'Careless People'

Meta Faces Legal Challenge Over Former Employee's Memoir

This week, Meta secured a legal win against Sarah Wynn-Williams, a previous employee. Wynn-Williams recently released a memoir detailing her experiences at the company, entitled “Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism.”

Non-Disparagement Agreement at Issue

An arbitrator determined that Meta presented a compelling case suggesting Wynn-Williams, who was with Facebook (now Meta) from 2011 to 2017, potentially breached the non-disparagement agreement she signed upon her departure. The ruling temporarily restricts Wynn-Williams from actively promoting – or, “to the degree possible within [her] control, from continuing to publish or distribute” – her book pending the completion of private arbitration.

The "Streisand Effect" and Book Sales

Despite the ruling, “Careless People” remains available for purchase and is potentially experiencing a boost in sales due to the “Streisand effect.” This phenomenon occurs when attempts to suppress information inadvertently lead to its wider dissemination. As of Sunday afternoon, the book held the number three position on Amazon’s bestseller list.

Publisher's Response

Macmillan, the publisher of “Careless People” through its Flatiron Books imprint, released a statement asserting that the arbitrator’s decision “has no effect” on their operations. They affirmed their commitment to “fully support and promote” the book.

The publisher further expressed its disapproval of “Meta’s methods to silence [its] author” through the application of a non-disparagement clause within a severance agreement.

Macmillan clarified that “the arbitrator’s order does not address the assertions made within Careless People.” The book underwent a rigorous editing and verification process, and the publisher remains dedicated to releasing significant works like this one.

Inside Look at Facebook's Culture

“Careless People” provides, according to a New York Times review, a “darkly humorous and remarkably startling” perspective on the inner workings of Facebook – particularly its interactions with China and other nations. (Wynn-Williams held roles including director of global public policy during her tenure.)

“My time there spanned seven years, and if I were to summarize it in a single sentence, I would say it began as a hopeful comedy and ultimately descended into darkness and regret,” Wynn-Williams wrote in the memoir.

She continued, “[M]ost days, policy work at Facebook felt less like implementing strategies from Machiavelli and more like observing a group of fourteen-year-olds who had been granted extraordinary abilities and substantial wealth, as they traveled the globe to ascertain what their power had acquired and bestowed upon them.”

Whistleblower Allegations

Wynn-Williams also reportedly submitted a whistleblower complaint to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This complaint alleges that, driven by a desire to operate in China, Facebook devised a plan in 2015 to appoint a “chief editor” capable of censoring content or shutting down the platform within China at the behest of the country’s governing party.

Meta's Response to the Memoir

A Meta spokesperson characterized “Careless People” as “a combination of outdated and previously reported assertions regarding [Meta] and inaccurate accusations against our leaders.” They also described Wynn-Williams as “an employee whose employment was terminated eight years ago due to unsatisfactory performance.”

The spokesperson added, “We currently do not operate our services in China. It is well-known that we once explored this possibility as part of Facebook’s mission to connect the world. This was widely reported a decade ago. We ultimately decided against pursuing the concepts we had investigated, as Mark Zuckerberg announced in 2019.”

Allegations of Harassment

“Careless People” details alleged uncomfortable interactions between Joel Kaplan, currently Meta’s vice president of global public policy, and Wynn-Williams. She claims he physically positioned himself against her at a work function, described her as “sultry,” and made “peculiar remarks” about her spouse.

Meta stated that it investigated Wynn-Williams’ claims of harassment and found them to be “misleading and without merit.”

Regarding the claim that the company is attempting to silence a whistleblower, the spokesperson stated, “Whistleblower protection applies to communications with the government, not to dissatisfied individuals seeking to market books.”

Criticism from Former Colleagues

Current and former Facebook employees have also voiced criticism of Wynn-Williams’ memoir. Mike Rognlien, a former staffer, stated he “worked alongside Sarah for 18 months in the New York office” and asserted that the book “contains so many falsehoods that I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

Wynn-Williams Addresses Pushback

In a Business Insider interview conducted prior to the arbitration ruling, Wynn-Williams characterized the company’s and former colleagues’ criticisms as distractions. When asked about the book’s fact-checking process, she said, “I believe Meta is utilizing this as a means to avoid addressing the questions themselves. My preference is that we do not get sidetracked.”