Meta exposé author faces bankruptcy after ban on criticising company Sarah Wynn-Williams made a series of claims about the social media company’s behaviour and culture in her book Careless People. Photograph: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images --- Key Points Subject: Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Meta executive and author of an exposé book about Meta. Situation: Facing potential bankruptcy after being banned from criticizing Meta publicly. Fine: Could face $50,000 fines for each breach of a non-disparagement order. Claims in Book: Allegations of Meta’s complicity with China over censorship and problematic treatment of teenagers; also contains sexual harassment allegations denied by Meta. Legal Issues: Meta secured a court ruling restricting Wynn-Williams from promoting the book; an order prevents her from speaking disparagingly about the company. MP Intervention: Louise Haigh, former Labour transport secretary, highlighted the case in the UK Parliament as an example of Meta trying to "silence and punish" Wynn-Williams. Book Reception: "Careless People" published by Pan Macmillan in 2025, sold over 150,000 copies and featured on The Sunday Times bestseller list. Meta's Position: Denies allegations, calls the book false and defamatory; Meta said Wynn-Williams was fired for poor performance and toxic behavior after an investigation. Impact on Wynn-Williams: She remains legally silenced, facing arbitration proceedings that threaten her financial stability. Public Record: Wynn-Williams testified before the US Senate judiciary subcommittee describing Meta’s alleged cooperation with Beijing; she urges other whistleblowers to come forward. Publisher: Pan Macmillan plans to release a paperback edition early next year. --- Background Sarah Wynn-Williams was formerly the director of global public policy at Facebook (now Meta’s precursor). After raising concerns about Meta’s business dealings and workplace culture via her memoir "Careless People," the company took legal action against her. Despite Meta’s order preventing Wynn-Williams from criticizing the company publicly or promoting her book, she spoke before the US Senate, asserting Meta's cooperation with Chinese censorship programs—claims Meta denies. Meta contends Wynn-Williams’s departure involved a voluntary agreement that includes a gagging clause and potential penalties ($50,000 per breach), yet states she has not been forced to pay any fines to date. --- Political Response Louise Haigh MP raised Wynn-Williams’s plight in the UK Parliament, criticizing Meta for using arbitration processes to suppress whistleblowers and warning about the financial consequences faced by people who speak out against powerful corporations. Haigh expressed support for legislative protections for whistleblowers. --- Quotes Louise Haigh MP: “Meta has served a gagging order on Sarah and is attempting to fine her $50,000 for every breach of that order. She is on the verge of bankruptcy.” Sarah Wynn-Williams (statement): “I urge other tech employees and those who are thinking of whistleblowing to share what they know before more children are harmed.” Meta on Wynn-Williams’s testimony: “Divorced from reality and riddled with false claims” about China and its treatment of teenagers. --- Summary Former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams authored "Careless People," a critical memoir detailing allegations of corporate misconduct, censorship collaboration with China, and workplace issues at Meta. After publication, Meta legally restricted her from discussing or promoting the book and threatens substantial fines for violations. Facing financial ruin, Wynn-Williams’s situation has drawn parliamentary attention, highlighting ongoing battles over