Former Facebook Employee Alleges Misconduct in Upcoming Memoir

NEW YORK, NY — A former Facebook executive plans to release a memoir on Tuesday detailing allegations of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment and misleading statements to Congress regarding the company’s operations in China. Sarah Wynn-Williams, the former director of global public policy at Facebook, asserts that retaliation followed her reports of harassment by her then-boss, Joel Kaplan.

In her memoir titled “Careless People,” which will be published by Flatiron Books, Wynn-Williams alleges Kaplan, who currently serves as Meta‘s chief global affairs officer, sexually harassed her during her tenure at the company. Meta responded to her claims in a statement, labeling them as ‘false accusations’ and asserting that Kaplan was cleared of allegations following an internal investigation in 2017. Wynn-Williams was subsequently fired for what Meta describes as ‘poor performance and toxic behavior.’

Wynn-Williams contends that her termination was retaliation for speaking out against Kaplan. Elliot Schrage, one of her supervisors, supported Meta’s position, stating that her dismissal was based on repeated performance issues, including indecision and failure to meet hiring goals.

Throughout her time at Facebook, Wynn-Williams collaborated closely with high-ranking executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg. In the memoir, she accuses Sandberg of inappropriate behavior that blurred professional boundaries, asserting that the environment cultivated by company leadership contributed to a lack of attention to internal warnings regarding human rights and democracy.

Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat, expresses concern over technological CEOs allying with political figures, raising alarms about the implications for society. “We’re in a moment now where technology CEOs and political leaders around the world are joining forces and compounding their influence,” she told NBC News. “People need to understand what has actually gone on.”

The memoir arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Meta, known for its influence in political discord and recent controversies related to privacy and public safety. Earlier this year, Wynn-Williams filed a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission, asserting that Meta misled investors. While the SEC does not typically comment on ongoing investigations, the claim has garnered attention in the context of the memoir’s release.

Meta characterized Wynn-Williams’ statements as part of a longstanding narrative cultivated by former employees opposed to the company. “This is a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives,” the company stated. Furthermore, they criticized her for allegedly attempting to monetize her experiences through the memoir.

In light of the memoir, Meta lodged an emergency request for a hearing with an arbitrator, claiming Wynn-Williams violated a nondisparagement agreement. They seek an injunction against any harmful claims made in the book.

Despite Meta’s claims, Flatiron Books maintains that the memoir provides a first-person account of Wynn-Williams’ experiences at Facebook and emphasizes the importance of allowing her story to be heard without interference from the company. In response to Meta’s preemptive actions, Flatiron defended its decision to publish, stating, “We have thoroughly vetted the book and have no obligation to allow Meta the opportunity to silence our author.”

The emergence of Wynn-Williams’ memoir reflects broader concerns surrounding the ethical responsibilities of technology companies and their leaders in navigating global operations and maintaining corporate integrity. As these issues resurface, the public and regulators are left to grapple with the implications for social media platforms and the influential figures running them.