Meta Cracks Down on Leakers, Fires 20 Employees and Counting

Meta is taking a hard stance against internal leaks, recently firing around 20 employees for sharing confidential company information. And according to the company, more terminations may be on the way.

Meta’s Stance on Leaks

"We tell employees when they join the company, and we offer periodic reminders, that it is against our policies to leak internal information, no matter the intent,” a Meta spokesperson told The Verge. Following an internal investigation, the company determined that several employees had violated this policy, leading to their dismissal.

Zuckerberg’s Frustration

The crackdown follows CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s growing frustration over leaked internal discussions. At a recent all-hands meeting, Zuckerberg admitted he was reluctant to answer certain questions because of repeated leaks. “We try to be really open, and then everything I say leaks. It sucks,” he reportedly told employees.

Ironically, details from that meeting were leaked soon after. In response, Meta sent a company-wide memo warning employees that leaking information would result in disciplinary action, including termination. That memo, too, found its way to the press.

A History of Meta Whistleblowing

This isn’t the first time Meta has dealt with internal leaks. In 2021, former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen exposed internal files to The Wall Street Journal, leading to The Facebook Files investigation. Haugen later testified before Congress, accusing Facebook of prioritizing profits over user safety.

More Turmoil at Meta

The recent firings come amid a turbulent period for the tech giant. Just weeks ago, Meta began performance-based layoffs affecting roughly 3,600 employees—about 5% of its global workforce.

According to The New York Post, employee morale is also taking a hit after Meta scrapped its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and fact-checking policies. While these moves are seen as aligning with former President Trump’s political stance, they haven't done much to boost Zuckerberg’s approval ratings.

As Meta continues to navigate internal unrest and external scrutiny, one thing is clear: the company is sending a strong message that leaking internal information will not be tolerated.

Do you think this is the beginning of accountability within the ranks of social media companies? 

Your thoughts?