A sign was seen at the Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California on February 02, 2023. Former Facebook executive and whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams has stated that Meta is preventing her from speaking to Congress about her experiences at the company. This situation arose from arbitration proceedings initiated by Meta after Wynn-Williams published her memoir, “Careless People,” earlier this month. Meta moved swiftly to restrict her from promoting or discussing the book, citing it contained outdated claims and false accusations. Following the book’s release, the company filed an arbitration demand claiming that the book violated a non-disparagement agreement Wynn-Williams signed upon leaving the company. An arbitrator then issued a temporary order prohibiting her from making any negative comments about Meta and promoting the book.
Due to this order, Wynn-Williams is unable to respond to requests from lawmakers in various countries to discuss her time at the company, as stated in a response to the arbitration proceedings obtained by CNN. Despite requests from members of the U.S. Congress, the U.K. Parliament, and the EU Parliament to speak with Wynn-Williams regarding concerns raised in her memoir, such as Meta’s dealings with the Chinese government and alleged harm to teen girls, she appears to be blocked from engaging with these lawmakers.
Wynn-Williams’ memoir provides detailed insights into her tenure at Meta, including the company’s attempts to enter the Chinese market and allegations of sexual harassment by Joel Kaplan, who is now the policy chief. The emergency order from the arbitrator prohibits Wynn-Williams from making any critical comments about the company, even if she believes them to be true, as revealed in a public filing by Meta. The order also clarifies that Wynn-Williams can still file claims with government agencies responsible for enforcing laws, but she argues that this does not extend to speaking with lawmakers.
Meta has stated that they do not intend to impede Wynn-Williams’ legal rights. Additionally, Wynn-Williams lodged a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2024 and with the Department of Justice in 2025. Her memoir arrives amidst increased regulatory scrutiny and pressure on Meta globally over issues like teen safety and misinformation. Other former employees have also acted as whistleblowers, and Meta executives have faced hearings on Capitol Hill.
Wynn-Williams worked at Meta for six years, serving as the director of global public policy before being terminated in 2017 for alleged poor performance and toxic behavior, which she suggests was in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. Meta had sent a letter to Wynn-Williams’ publi
Before the book’s release, Meta criticized the author for failing to verify her claims with the company and threatened legal action if the book included false statements or implications. However, despite Meta’s attempts to stop the book, it made its debut this week on the New York Times’ bestseller list. A document stated that the author’s unresponsiveness to legislators, journalists, and the public was harming the public interest. It further noted that interest in the author’s evidence from various legislatures and regulatory bodies favored her position. To stay updated on CNN news and newsletters, sign up for an account at CNN.com.
