Republican US senator accuses Zuckerberg of trying to destroy Meta whistleblower

Despite Meta’s best efforts, Sarah Wynn-Williams’ memoir about her time at the company, “Careless People,” remains among the best-selling titles nearly 17 years after its release. Now, a Republican US senator wants Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to stop pursuing her.

Wynn-Williams must be the unluckiest author out there – and it’s Meta’s fault.

Her book, depicting Meta’s dealings with China and its exploitative treatment of underage users, is still selling great, but under an interim arbitration ruling secured by the tech giant, Wynn Williams isn’t allowed to speak about it in public.

At literary festivals and events, the author has been advised by her lawyers to remain silent, even though she recently sued Meta over the restrictions, which amount to a gag order.

Wynn-Williams is also “not permitted to engage in informal discussions with legislators in the United States and Europe” because “nothing would limit or prevent those legislators (or their aides) from parroting to the public,” the ruling also says.

Now, though, the whistleblower has a new, relatively powerful ally, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, known for aggressively targeting big tech and – uniquely – collaborating with Democrats such as Bernie Sanders.

In a letter to Zuckerberg, Hawley demands to know what measures Meta had taken to monitor Wynn-Williams – Facebook’s former global head of public policy – and her family.

“Meta’s efforts to destroy Ms. Wynn-Williams with lawfare are a matter of grave public concern,” wrote Hawley.

“Congress cannot permit giant corporations like Meta to crush good people who blow the whistle on corporate wrongdoing.”

Hawley adds: “To this day, Meta continues to relentlessly pursue her in arbitration, attempting to bankrupt her and subjecting her and her family to constant stress.”

In court filings, Wynn-Williams’ legal team says Meta’s lawyers have been shadowing her movements, including to rural Wales, and have been monitoring and photographing her at events to build sanctions cases.

It’s unsurprising that in his letter, Hawley, a China hawk who heads the Senate judiciary subcommittee on crime and counter-terrorism, throws in accusations that Meta is in cahoots with the Chinese government.

The American people deserve to know the truth. Meta has been willing to compromise its values, sacrifice the security of its users, and undermine American interests to build its China business,

Sarah Wynn-Williams

Wynn-Williams herself claims in her book that Meta and Beijing have worked together on censorship tools.

She told US senators last year in an official testimony that Meta was so eager to enter the Chinese market that it was willing to provide Beijing with access to the firm’s user data, including that of American citizens.

“The American people deserve to know the truth. Meta has been willing to compromise its values, sacrifice the security of its users, and undermine American interests to build its China business.

It’s been happening for years, covered up by lies, and continues to this day,” said Wynn-Williams in April 2025.

Meta disputes Wynn-Williams’ claims, saying her book contains several false claims. Her legal case, the social media giant says, is a ploy to sell more copies.

The company’s spokesperson said in a statement: “This former employee is trying to use the legal process to sell books, which an arbitrator already ruled broke the agreement she signed with the company when she accepted a large severance payment years ago.”

Meta says Wynn-Williams was paid a $780,000 severance package, and New York magazine previously reported that she was awarded an advance of more than $500,000 for her book.