Meta Platforms Inc. has blocked a memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams, Facebook’s former director of global public policy, claiming it violates her severance agreement. The book, titled “Careless People,” is an insider account detailing alleged office politics and business practices.
Zuckerberg’s reaction to the book’s contents is puzzling, given his previous statements on disinformation and censorship. In 2022, Meta eliminated fact-checkers to reduce censorship, but now claims that allowing Wynn-Williams’ memoir would cause “immediate loss.” This move raises questions about Zuckerberg’s commitment to freedom of speech.
Wynn-Williams’ account includes details about the inner workings of Facebook and Meta, including a senior staffer who allegedly manipulates his own algorithm for greater engagement. The book also touches on office politics and power struggles within the company.
Meta has stated that Wynn-Williams was fired for “poor performance and toxic behavior,” but this claim is disputed by some, given the severity of alleged wrongdoing described in the memoir.
The publication of the book comes as Meta faces intense scrutiny over its handling of social media addiction, its impact on children’s mental health, and its involvement in human rights issues such as genocide in Myanmar.
As Wynn-Williams’ account details, Meta is guilty of “anarchy,” with little regard for accountability or societal consequences. The company’s actions have sparked widespread concern among critics who see it as a modern-day equivalent of the East India Company’s destructive legacy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/14/mark-zuckerberg-free-speech-meta-sheryl-sandberg