Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has terminated approximately 20 employees for sharing confidential company information externally, with additional firings expected in the coming weeks.
The dismissals follow repeated warnings from CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the damaging impact of internal leaks on the company's operations, particularly as Meta positions itself for increased competition in artificial intelligence development.
"We inform new hires and remind them regularly that sharing internal information violates our policies," a Meta spokesperson stated. The company has not revealed which departments were affected or how the employees were identified.
The crackdown comes after several high-profile leaks of Zuckerberg's comments during company meetings and internal memos. In January, the CEO expressed frustration when his remarks during a staff Q&A session about Meta's strategic direction were immediately shared with media outlets.
Guy Rosen, Meta's chief information security officer, emphasized the broader impact of information leaks in a company memo: "When information is stolen or leaked, there are repercussions beyond the immediate security impact. We waste valuable time that could be spent advancing our products and mission."
The recent terminations coincide with internal tensions over Meta's organizational changes, including modifications to its diversity programs and fact-checking initiatives. Some critics suggest these shifts aim to align with certain political interests.
Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth indicated that Meta has enhanced its capability to identify those responsible for leaks, suggesting the company's commitment to maintaining stricter information security measures.
The company maintains its stance on protecting internal discussions, especially as it prepares for what leadership describes as a competitive year in AI development. Meta has confirmed that its investigation into information leaks remains ongoing, with more employee dismissals anticipated.