‘Careless People’ author, in explosive new lawsuit, accuses Meta of trying to silence her

Sarah Wynn-Williams, author of the memoir "Careless People," filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. on Thursday in federal court in Northern California, alleging the company is attempting to "silence" her. The lawsuit claims that Meta's private arbitration order, which prohibits her from discussing the company or promoting her book, is invalid. Wynn-Williams, a former director of global public policy at Facebook (now Meta) from 2011 to 2017, argues that her severance agreement, which included a non-disparagement clause, was signed under duress. "Careless People" reportedly details alleged disturbing behavior by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his efforts to gain favor with Chinese officials. Meta contends that Wynn-Williams violated her agreement and that her book contains inaccuracies. The lawsuit states Meta is seeking $50,000 in damages for each alleged violation of the non-disparagement agreement, which Wynn-Williams claims creates financial duress. She is requesting the court to lift the arbitration order and invalidate her severance agreement. Meta issued a statement asserting that Wynn-Williams is using the legal system to promote her book, which an arbitrator previously found violated her agreement. The company described her book as "divorced from reality, disparaging and riddled with false claims." The lawsuit also alleges that Meta obtained an emergency gag order preventing Wynn-Williams and her legal team from criticizing the company or promoting her book, and that Meta representatives have surveilled her appearances since the book's publication.