Former Facebook executive-turned-whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams alleges that Meta is preventing her from testifying before lawmakers in multiple countries due to an arbitration order.
Wynn-Williams, who recently published her memoir Careless People, details her six-year tenure at the social media giant, covering topics such as Meta’s expansion into China and allegations of workplace misconduct. However, the company has moved swiftly to restrict her from promoting or discussing the book, claiming it contains outdated and false accusations.
On the day of the book’s release, Meta filed an arbitration demand, citing a voluntary non-disparagement agreement Wynn-Williams signed upon leaving the company in 2017. The following day, an arbitrator issued an emergency order prohibiting her from making critical comments about Meta, which she says effectively bars her from responding to congressional inquiries.
According to a legal filing obtained by CNN, lawmakers from the U.S., the UK, and the European Union have requested to speak with Wynn-Williams regarding her experiences at the company, including Meta’s alleged harms to teenage girls and its dealings with the Chinese government. However, the arbitration order prevents her from engaging with them.
Meta maintains that it is not interfering with Wynn-Williams’ legal rights and has stated she is still allowed to file claims with government agencies responsible for enforcing laws. However, her attorneys argue that since legislative bodies do not enforce laws, she remains unable to speak to lawmakers.
In addition to publishing her memoir, Wynn-Williams has filed whistleblower complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2024 and the Department of Justice in 2025.
Her book has sparked significant public interest despite Meta’s legal pushback, even debuting on The New York Times best-seller list. The company had previously warned her publisher of potential legal action if the book contained misleading claims.
Wynn-Williams, who previously served as Meta’s director of global public policy, was fired in 2017. While Meta attributes her termination to poor performance and toxic behavior, her book suggests she was dismissed in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment.
As Meta continues to face scrutiny from regulators worldwide over issues such as teen safety and misinformation, Wynn-Williams’ inability to testify has drawn concerns over public access to key information.
Her legal team argues that restricting her from speaking is a loss for public interest, as evidenced by the attention from lawmakers and regulatory bodies worldwide.
