Meta blocks ex-Facebook director from promoting critical memoir
Meta has recently secured a temporary legal victory in the United States that prevents a former Facebook executive from promoting or disseminating her critical memoir. The book titled Careless People, authored by Sarah Wynn-Williams, who previously served as Facebook’s global public policy director, delves into her firsthand experiences and observations during her seven-year tenure at the company. However, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, obtained an emergency ruling barring Wynn-Williams from promoting the book further, citing false and defamatory content.
According to Meta, the legal injunction restrains Wynn-Williams from engaging in any promotional activities within her control and necessitates the retraction of any disparaging remarks she may have made regarding the company. This ruling also disallows her from making any additional negative comments that could potentially damage Meta’s reputation. The UK publisher Macmillan has emphasized its commitment to upholding freedom of speech and ensuring Wynn-Williams’ right to share her narrative.
Wynn-Williams had plans for extensive media coverage in the UK and internationally, but the legal constraints have hindered her from pursuing these activities. The book outlines her experiences of witnessing Facebook’s growth firsthand after joining the company in 2011. It contains critical claims, including allegations that Facebook executives collaborated closely with the Chinese government to explore methods for content censorship and control in exchange for market access.
Meta has refuted these claims, asserting that while there was previous interest in operating in China, the company eventually decided against pursuing these ideas. Additionally, Wynn-Williams has lodged a whistleblower complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accusing Meta of misleading investors, an accusation the company firmly denies. The arbitrator overseeing the emergency hearing indicated that Meta had provided ample evidence suggesting that Wynn-Williams may have violated her severance contract.
During the hearing, the arbitrator highlighted Meta’s concerns of facing immediate and irreversible harm if Wynn-Williams was permitted to continue promoting the book without restrictions. The ruling, effective until a full hearing is conducted, does not mandate any action from the book’s publisher, Flatiron Books, or its parent company, Macmillan. Despite the legal hurdles, Careless People has made significant waves, securing the sixth spot on the Amazon chart in the US upon its release and subsequently launching in the UK.
In response to the ruling, a Meta spokesperson underscored the importance of maintaining integrity in publishing and stated that Wynn-Williams’ book contains falsehoods that should not have been made public. The ongoing legal battle underscores the tension between freedom of speech and corporate concerns, emphasizing the complexities surrounding memoirs and disclosures in the digital age.
