Meta Secures Emergency Ruling Against Memoir by Former Employee

On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, Inc. META received an emergency legal ruling that prevents the promotion of a memoir authored by a former high-ranking employee. The memoir alleges that the company neglected sexual harassment complaints while quietly developing censorship tools for China.

Overview of the Memoir’s Claims

What Happened: Sarah Wynn-Williams, who was employed at Facebook from 2011 to 2017, released her book titled “Careless People” this week. She claims to have interacted with high-level executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg.

In her book, Wynn-Williams accuses Joel Kaplan, Meta’s policy chief, of making inappropriate comments she categorized as sexual harassment, according to a report from the New York Times. Furthermore, she criticizes Sandberg for engaging in behavior she deems unsuitable, suggesting that Sandberg’s “Lean In” narrative serves as a facade for “unspoken rules” emphasizing “obedience and closeness.”

Additionally, Wynn-Williams alleges that Meta developed censorship tools to appease the Chinese Communist Party, a claim that aligns with a whistleblower complaint she filed with the SEC in April.

see also: Apple Delays Next-Gen Siri: ‘It’s Going To Take Us Longer Than We Thought’ To Deliver AI Upgrades

Meta’s Legal Response

Reacting to these allegations, Meta promptly filed an emergency motion, citing a breach of a non-disparagement agreement established in 2017. An arbitrator ruled in favor of Meta, thereby prohibiting Wynn-Williams from promoting or distributing her book and mandating her to retract previous statements. The arbitrator indicated that the company would suffer “immediate and irreparable loss” without such emergency relief.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone took to Threads, calling the memoir “false and defamatory.” He further asserted that Wynn-Williams had “deliberately concealed” the book’s publication and avoided proper fact-checking standards typical within the industry.

Market Implications

Why It’s Important: Earlier this week, Meta was highlighted as a promising investment, noted for its lower leverage compared to other technology giants, even as the so-called ‘Magnificent 7’ stocks showed underperformance in 2025.

Moreover, Zuckerberg’s company is working diligently to reduce its reliance on suppliers such as Nvidia Corporation, aiming to produce its own AI chips in collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

In the highly competitive Interactive Media & Services industry, Meta continues to maintain its dominance, boasting nearly 4 billion monthly active users across its various applications.

Stock Performance

Price Action: As of Wednesday’s regular trading session, Meta’s Stock closed at $619.56, reflecting a rise of 2.29%. In after-hours trading, the stock increased by an additional 0.47%. Year-to-date, the Stock has gained 3.39%, and over the past year, it has experienced a significant climb of 23.97%, as reported by Benzinga Pro data.

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Disclaimer:This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.