Meta Fires 20 Employees for Leaking Confidential Information
Meta announced on Thursday that it had fired 20 employees for leaking confidential company information to the media. The layoffs come as the social media giant faces scrutiny over its CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent political shift towards aligning with former President Donald Trump.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the firings, which were initially reported by The Verge. “We make it clear to our employees when they join the company, and remind them periodically, that leaking internal information, regardless of intent, violates our policies,” the spokesperson stated. “Following an investigation, about 20 employees were terminated for sharing confidential information outside of the company. We anticipate more actions may follow.”
The company emphasized that it takes such violations seriously and will continue to take necessary steps when leaks are identified.
The terminations followed a wave of media reports based on Zuckerberg’s recent meetings with employees. In one such meeting, Zuckerberg expressed frustration, stating that he would no longer be as open with staff due to frequent leaks. “We try to be really open, and then everything I say leaks. It sucks,” he said. He also warned employees to “buckle up” for a challenging year ahead, while assuring them that Meta would be a supportive partner to the White House.
The move to fire employees comes at a time when Zuckerberg has made several overtures towards President Trump and the Republican Party. Since Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, many tech leaders have adjusted their positions in response, with Zuckerberg notably softening his stance towards the former president since returning to office.
Zuckerberg’s relationship with Trump has grown more cordial in recent years. The two have dined together multiple times, and Zuckerberg has made financial contributions to Trump’s inauguration fund. The Meta CEO has also eased content moderation on Facebook, removed the US fact-checking program, and replaced his political affairs chief with a figure aligned with Republican views. Additionally, Trump ally Dana White was appointed to Meta’s board after the 2020 election.
These shifts align Zuckerberg with more conservative political views, paralleling the actions of figures like Elon Musk. On the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg criticized the corporate world for being “culturally neutered” and praised embracing “masculine energy” as a positive force.
