What We Know About Facebook's Whistleblower
Facebook's name change to Meta did little to stop the PR crisis associated with the Facebook Papers and whistleblower Frances Haugen's revelations. Haugen reportedly spoke to a close friend before she blew the whistle on the tech giant, noting that she was worried about blowback impacts to her career and family. But some people in the tech industry are welcoming her disclosures with open arms.
Here's what we know about the Facebook whistleblower right now.
She's a Silicon Valley Veteran
Haugen has worked for recognizable tech brands including Google, Pinterest, and Yelp, so work at Facebook wasn't her debut on this particular career stage. She spent two years at Facebook working as a product manager. Due to her experience at other tech and social media brands, she could make comparisons between how Facebook handled things versus how they were handled by other brands.
She's Getting Support From Big Tech Names
Many tech leaders and Silicon Valley insiders have their own concerns about privacy, ethics, and the dangers of technology, including social media. In her quest to bring some of this information to light, Haugen isn't alone. She's currently receiving PR and government relations assistance from Luminate, which is a philanthropic organization founded by Pierre Omidyar. Yes, that Omidyar—the founder of eBay, billionaire, and current tech critic.
She Thinks Zuckerberg Should Resign
In the early weeks of the Facebook Papers scandal, Haugen often hedged when asked about Zuckerberg's leadership. Recently, though, she made a definitive statement saying she thinks he should resign. According to Haugen, Facebook would be better off with a leader that puts safety first. The implication is that she believes Zuckerberg chases profits even if it means putting others at risk.
Facebook's (now Meta's) stock took a decent tumble as the scandal played out. Announcements about the brand's name change seemed to boost the stock price, though it still hasn't come close to its early September high. As Haugen gets more support and more information comes out about the Facebook Papers, investors should expect prices to be somewhat volatile.