Meta Platforms has secured an emergency ruling to halt the promotion of a revealing book by a former employee. The book, titled "Careless People," was written by Sarah Wynn-Williams, who previously served as Meta’s director of global public policy.
The ruling came from an emergency arbitrator after a hearing that Wynn-Williams did not attend. Nicholas Gowen, the arbitrator, stated that Meta would face "immediate and irreparable loss" if the book continued to be promoted. The book has been described by the New York Times as a harsh and detailed portrayal of Meta and its top executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg.
The publisher of the book, Macmillan, argued that it was not bound by the arbitration agreement that was part of Wynn-Williams’ severance deal with Meta. While the arbitrator ordered Wynn-Williams to stop promoting the book and to prevent further publication as much as possible, there was no directive for the publisher to take any action.
Meta’s spokesperson, Andy Stone, expressed confidence in the ruling, claiming it supports their view that Wynn-Williams’ book is false and defamatory. Neither Wynn-Williams nor Macmillan responded to requests for comments regarding the arbitration ruling.
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between former employees and large tech companies, particularly when it comes to sensitive information and personal accounts of corporate culture.