In her forthcoming memoir, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former director of global public policy at Facebook, presents serious allegations against the company and its leadership. Wynn-Williams, who served at Facebook for seven years before her departure in 2017, claims that she faced sexual harassment and that the company engaged in ethically questionable practices impacting global human rights and democracy.
Allegations Against Joel Kaplan
Wynn-Williams alleges that Joel Kaplan, Facebook's Chief Global Affairs Officer, engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment towards her. She claims that despite reporting these incidents, no action was taken, and she faced retaliation, leading to her termination in 2017. Meta has refuted these claims, stating that an investigation found her allegations to be "misleading and unfounded," and attributing her dismissal to "poor performance and toxic behavior."
Critique of Company Culture
Beyond personal allegations, Wynn-Williams criticizes Facebook's corporate culture, describing it as plagued by misogyny and double standards. She asserts that the leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg, prioritized personal gain over ethical considerations, often at the expense of employees and global users.
Engagement with China
The memoir also alleges that Zuckerberg sought to enter the Chinese market by developing censorship tools and enhancing AI capabilities to align with the Chinese government's requirements. These efforts were purportedly concealed from U.S. regulators and Congress. Meta acknowledges attempts to enter China but maintains that no agreements were finalized.
Company Response
Meta has dismissed Wynn-Williams' memoir as a collection of outdated and previously reported claims, coupled with false accusations against its executives. The company emphasizes that her employment was terminated due to performance-related issues and maintains that thorough investigations were conducted regarding her allegations.
Careless People is scheduled for release on March 12, 2025, and is anticipated to reignite discussions about corporate accountability, workplace culture, and the ethical responsibilities of global technology companies.