Meta blocks promotion of tell-all book from former employee

Meta halts Sarah Wynn-Williams from promoting her revealing book on the company's practices, claiming contract violations.

: Meta secured an emergency arbitration ruling against Sarah Wynn-Williams, prohibiting her from promoting her book revealing Meta's internal practices. The book, titled 'Careless People,' details allegations such as concessions to China and sexual harassment claims against Joel Kaplan. The ruling is based on a severance agreement violation, though the book remains available for purchase on platforms like Amazon. Despite Meta's claims of irreparable harm, the book achieved bestseller status in its category, illustrating public interest.

An emergency arbitration ruling temporarily halted Sarah Wynn-Williams from promoting her book, 'Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism.' This decision, issued by arbitrator Nicholas Gowen, ruled in favor of Meta, citing that the company would endure "immediate and irreparable loss" without such relief. The ruling means Wynn-Williams cannot engage in promotional activities, make any derogatory comments about Meta, or further publish or distribute the book. However, this limitation is only to the extent she can control, leaving some grey area regarding enforcement.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, once Facebook's director of global public policy, details in her book revelations such as Meta’s concessions offered to the Chinese government to launch a censored version of the platform. She also accuses Joel Kaplan, chief global affairs officer, of sexual harassment during his tenure as vice president. Furthermore, Wynn-Williams alleges neglect of internal warnings by Facebook regarding potential harm to human rights and democracy. Despite these severe allegations, the book continues to sell, remaining accessible at retailers like Amazon where it's a bestseller in its category.

Wynn-Williams' employment with Facebook ended in 2017 due to what Meta describes as poor performance and toxic behavior. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone claimed the book is "false and defamatory," arguing its publication sidestepped typical industry fact-checking. He stated, "This urgent legal action was made necessary by Williams, who concealed the book's existence and avoided standard procedures, rushing it to shelves." The company underscores that her comments are now outdated due to her eight-year separation from Meta's operations.

Publisher Macmillan, responsible for releasing Wynn-Williams' book, contends they are not bound by the non-disparagement agreement in Wynn-Williams' severance contract. They maintain their position to keep the book available to the public, highlighting its number one spot in its retail category as a sign of significant consumer interest.

While Meta aims to curb the book's impact via legal channels, some speculate about the potential Streisand effect—where attempts to suppress information might actually increase public curiosity. As controversies like this unfold, they raise broader questions within the tech industry concerning transparency, ethical practices, and the efficacy and limitations of non-disclosure agreements.

Sources: TechSpot, Amazon, Reuters, The Guardian, BBC

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