Meta tried to censor ex-employee's memoir—Now it's an Amazon bestseller
What's the story
Meta, Facebook's parent company, won an arbitration ruling against ex-employee Sarah Wynn-Williams.
An arbitrator ruled in Meta's favor, saying that Wynn-Williams may have violated the non-disparagement agreement she signed when leaving the company.
The ruling temporarily prevents her from promoting her book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism, or making derogatory statements about Meta until private arbitration is concluded.
Despite this, Careless People remains available for purchase. It's now the third bestselling book on Amazon.
Information
Book gains momentum as censorship backfires
Wynn-Williams's book is currently reaping the benefits of the "Streisand Effect," where attempts to suppress information only serve to further publicize it. Macmillan, the publisher of Careless People, has said it will continue to support and promote the book, no matter the arbitration's outcome.
Publisher's response
Macmillan condemns Meta's tactics to silence author
Macmillan has condemned Meta's attempts to silence Wynn-Williams with a non-disparagement clause in her severance agreement.
The publisher said the arbitrator's order makes no mention of the claims in Careless People. They reiterated their commitment to publishing important books like this one.
The memoir provides an inside look at Facebook, especially its relationship with China and other governments, which a New York Times reviewer called "darkly funny and genuinely shocking."
Company rebuttal
Meta responds to allegations
Meta has rejected the allegations in Careless People, calling it "a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about [Meta] and false accusations about our executives."
The company also denied claims of harassment leveled by Wynn-Williams, saying they found them "misleading and unfounded."
A former Facebook employee, Mike Rognlien, also slammed the memoir, alleging that it is filled with lies.
Author's stance
Wynn-Williams stands by her memoir amid controversy
In an interview with Business Insider, Wynn-Williams dismissed the criticisms from Meta and her former coworkers as distractions.
She said she wanted the focus to be on the issues raised in the book and not be sidetracked by these criticisms.
The statement highlights her commitment to the content of Careless People despite the ongoing controversy and legal proceedings surrounding it.