Meta is cracking down on employees who are said to be responsible for leaking information from company meetings to the public.

About 20 employees have reportedly been fired for disclosing confidential information.

The crackdown follows a high-profile breach in which an “all-hands” meeting was recorded, exposing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s candid remarks about TikTok, artificial intelligence, and the company’s future.

One such statement was about Meta’s ambitions around AI. Yet, these were not meant for public consumption – at least not yet.

The fact that such details surfaced in the media has only intensified the crackdown.

The terminations once again illustrate the growing tension within Meta, where leadership is battling both internal dissent and external scrutiny.

But as the company undergoes sweeping changes – ranging from layoffs to policy shifts – employee morale appears to be at an all-time low, The Verge reported.

Leakers exposed – more terminations to follow? 

Meta’s hardline stance on leaks was made clear by company spokesperson Dave Arnold, who told The Verge: “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.”

After the termination of some 20 employees, Arnold said the investigation of other possibly errant team members may be far from over.

“We take this seriously, and will continue to take action when we identify leaks,” he said, hinting at further dismissals.

Also Read: Meta job cuts and a crisis of (mis)trust

Policy shifts and layoffs at Meta

Beyond the leak-related dismissals, Meta has been undergoing massive changes. The company recently announced plans to lay off hundreds – if not thousands – of employees as it looks to cut 5% of its workforce.

These layoffs, combined with Zuckerberg’s decision to phase out fact-checkers and dismantle the company’s DEI programmes, have sent shockwaves through the workforce. The changes have reportedly eroded morale and left employees uncertain about Meta’s direction and their place in it.

Adding fuel to the fire, leaked comments from Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth suggest the company is taking a defiant stance against internal leaks.

“There’s a funny thing that’s happening with these leaks,” Bosworth said in an internal meeting, which – ironically – was also leaked. “When things leak, I think a lot of times people think, ‘Ah, OK, this is leaked; therefore, it’ll put pressure on us to change things.’ The opposite is more likely.”

In other words, employees hoping to use leaks as a tool to influence corporate decisions may find that leadership is digging in its heels instead.

A culture of fear or a course correction?

For Meta, secrecy is paramount. But will this approach restore order, or will it deepen the culture of fear and mistrust already brewing inside the company?

From a business perspective, maintaining confidentiality is critical, particularly in a hyper-competitive industry where strategic insights can make or break a company’s future.

However, when leaks become a recurring issue, it often signals deeper workplace dissatisfaction. The scenario suggests that employees feel unheard, undervalued, or disillusioned with leadership decisions.

The recent layoffs and policy reversals may be necessary cost-cutting measures, but they also risk alienating talent and damaging the company’s reputation. At a time when Big Tech is under intense regulatory scrutiny, Meta can ill afford a workforce that feels disengaged or at odds with its leadership.

A case study in corporate governance and employee engagement

Zuckerberg has made it clear that 2025 would be an “crazy year” for Meta. Whether that intensity translates into a successful transformation or an internal crisis remains to be seen.

For HR and business leaders, Meta’s handling of these events serves as a case study in corporate governance, employee engagement, and crisis management.

The dual challenge of enforcing confidentiality and fostering a culture of trust is no easy feat. However, companies that rely solely on fear-based enforcement may find themselves fighting an uphill battle in retaining top talent and maintaining innovation.

Meta is intensifying its AI ambitions and reshaping its workforce to stay ahead, but the real test will be whether it can inspire confidence – not just among investors, but also among the employees who will ultimately determine its success.