A former executive at Meta, Sarah Wynn-Williams, known for her critical memoir about the company, is reportedly facing significant financial difficulties following its publication. Wynn-Williams, who previously served as the director of global public policy at Facebook, has made allegations regarding Meta’s interactions with China and its treatment of teenagers in her book titled Careless People.
During a parliamentary session, MP Louise Haigh claimed that Wynn-Williams is being “silenced and punished” for speaking out against Meta. The company has reportedly issued a gag order against her, imposing a fine of $50,000 (£37,000) for each violation related to the agreement she signed upon leaving Meta in 2017, which included non-disparagement clauses. Meta asserts that she voluntarily agreed to these terms.
Wynn-Williams alleges in her memoir that she was dismissed for “poor performance and toxic behaviour,” and has made accusations of sexual harassment which Meta denies. Following her claims, she testified before a U.S. Senate judiciary subcommittee, stating that Meta collaborates with Beijing regarding censorship tools, a assertion that the company refutes.
Despite these controversies, her publisher, Pan Macmillan, reported that Careless People has sold over 150,000 copies and is listed among the bestselling hardbacks this year. A paperback edition is scheduled for release next year.
Haigh emphasized that Wynn-Williams’s financial struggles are a direct result of Meta’s actions, prompting discussions on the protection of whistleblowers in employment rights debates. Meta has described the memoir as filled with outdated claims and inaccuracies about the company and reiterated that there has been no requirement for Wynn-Williams to pay under the terms of her agreement.
Wynn-Williams has not made public statements since her Senate testimony; however, her lawyer noted that she remains unable to discuss topics related to the ongoing investigation, despite Congressional encouragement for Meta to cease the proceedings that threaten her financial stability.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/21/meta-expose-author-sarah-wynn-williams-faces-bankruptcy-after-ban-on-criticising-company