Meta Fires 20 Employees Amid Increased Crackdown on Leaks

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has terminated approximately 20 employees for leaking confidential information to external parties, a spokesperson announced on Thursday. The firings come amid growing concerns about internal communication breaches and a rise in media reports detailing the company’s internal strategies and meetings.

Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold stated, “We recently conducted an investigation that resulted in roughly 20 employees being terminated for sharing confidential information outside the company, and we expect there will be more. We take this seriously, and will continue to take action when we identify leaks.” Employees are informed upon joining the company about strict policies preventing them from sharing internal information.

The recent firings follow a string of leaks that disclosed sensitive information, including remarks made by CEO Mark Zuckerberg during an all-hands meeting. According to reports, Zuckerberg expressed frustration over the leaks, highlighting that, “Everything I say leaks. And it sucks, right?” He emphasized the impact of these leaks on company morale and productivity.

CTO Andrew Bosworth noted the company has witnessed a “tremendous number of leaks” and mentioned during a company Q&A that Meta is actively working to identify those responsible. He stated, “When things leak, I think a lot of times people think, ‘Ah, okay, this is leaked, therefore it’ll put pressure on us to change things.’ The opposite is more likely.”

In response to the ongoing leaks, Meta has implemented changes in their internal communications strategy, including removing features that allowed employee interaction during meetings. This decision aims to mitigate further leaks and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive discussions.

The terminated employees’ specific identities and the details surrounding the leaked information remain undisclosed. However, the company has indicated that it would continue monitoring for potential leaks and take appropriate actions as needed.

These firings come shortly after a significant workforce reduction at Meta, affecting about 3,600 employees classified as low performers. Zuckerberg indicated an “intense year” ahead for Meta as it focuses on development within the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence.