A former executive from Meta is taking legal action against the company, claiming that it is attempting to suppress her narrative and silence her voice. Her memoir, “Careless People,” offers a revealing account of her tenure at the social media conglomerate, prompting Meta to enforce an arbitration order against her.
The legal complaint, initiated on Thursday in a federal court in Northern California, challenges the validity of an arbitration directive that prohibits her from discussing Meta or promoting her book. The lawsuit further contends that the severance agreement she signed was executed under duress, which barred her from making disparaging remarks about the company.
Sarah Wynn-Williams, who previously held the position of director of global public policy at Facebook—now Meta Platforms Inc.—from 2011 to her dismissal in 2017, is at the center of this legal battle. Her book accuses CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives of harsh and unsettling behavior, including efforts to curry favor with Chinese authorities. In response, Meta has accused Wynn-Williams of breaching her agreement and producing a book filled with inaccuracies.
The lawsuit highlights Meta’s demand for $50,000 in damages for each alleged breach of the non-disparagement clause by Wynn-Williams, which she argues places her under financial strain. Her legal request includes lifting the arbitration order and nullifying her severance agreement.
In a statement, Meta remarked, “Our former employee is trying to use the legal process to sell books, which an arbitrator already ruled broke the agreement she signed with the company when she accepted a large severance payment years ago. Her book is divorced from reality, disparaging and riddled with false claims.”
The lawsuit also claims that Meta secured an emergency gag order to prevent Wynn-Williams and her legal team from criticizing the company or promoting her book. Over the past year since the book’s release, Meta is alleged to have monitored her closely, with representatives attending her public appearances and documenting her silence on the subject of Meta.
Meta reportedly objected to Wynn-Williams’ participation in a U.K. arts and literary festival earlier this year, where she remained silent during a panel because the other speakers criticized the company.
In the lawsuit, it is stated, “Meta is pursuing Ms. Wynn-Williams at the expense of free speech and legal constraints not only because she refused to bow to the greed and power of Meta, Mr. Zuckerberg, and other executives, but also to strike fear into the heart of anyone else who dares to consider speaking the truth about Meta’s unlawful and abusive practices in the public interest.”
