Meta confirmed on Thursday that it had fired 20 employees for leaking confidential information to the media, following growing scrutiny over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s shifting political stance, particularly his recent alignment with US President Donald Trump.
A Meta spokesperson stated, “When employees join the company, we clearly communicate that leaking internal information, regardless of intent, is against our policies. We recently completed an investigation that led to the termination of approximately 20 employees for sharing confidential details outside the company, and we expect additional actions may follow.”
The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining confidentiality, adding, “We take these matters seriously and will continue to take necessary actions when leaks are identified.”
The layoffs followed a series of media reports stemming from internal meetings with Zuckerberg, including one in which he expressed frustration over leaks within the company. According to The Verge, Zuckerberg told employees that he would no longer be as transparent with information, stating, “We try to be really open, and then everything I say leaks. It sucks.” He also warned them to “buckle up” for the upcoming year and indicated that Meta would work closely with the White House.
Zuckerberg’s recent political moves have drawn attention, particularly his apparent shift toward Republican leadership. Since Donald Trump’s election victory, Zuckerberg has made several overtures to the former president, including dining together, donating to Trump’s inauguration fund, and relaxing content moderation policies. In a notable move, Meta ended its U.S. fact-checking program and appointed Trump ally Dana White to its board following the 2020 election.
Zuckerberg’s embrace of right-wing views aligns with the growing influence of conservative figures, including Elon Musk, who has also criticized mainstream corporate culture. On the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg expressed discontent with what he described as the “culturally neutered” corporate world and suggested that embracing “masculine energy” was beneficial.
The internal leak investigation and Meta’s subsequent actions are just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Zuckerberg’s shifting political stance and the company’s growing ties to conservative figures in Washington.
AFP
