A Meta worker took to social media to bash a “toxic” company policy that bars staffers from discussing controversial topics within the workplace — after accusing the tech behemoth of censoring her pro-Palestinian note to leadership.
The worker, who goes only by Saima on her social media accounts, has worked as a knowledge scientist for Meta in Recent York since 2021, per her LinkedIn account.
Earlier this week, she shared a text-only Instagram post that read: “external censorship on Meta platforms starts with internal censorship of Meta employees.”
Saima used the caption to reveal an internal rule at Meta dubbed CEE — Community Engagement Expectations — that limits staff from discussing certain topics at work, Business Insider earlier reported.
CEE was introduced when Meta switched up its policies on internal communications in late 2022.
Per a memo circulated by Meta’s head of individuals Lori Goler on the time, CEE was put into place “to be sure that internal discussions remain respectful, productive, and permit us to focus. This comes with the trade-off that we’ll now not allow for each kind of expression at work, but we expect that is the correct thing to do for the long-term health of our internal community.”
“The problems that may now not be discussed include health matters comparable to vaccine efficacy and abortion, legal matters comparable to pending laws, political matters comparable to elections or political movements, and weapon ownership and rights,” Goler wrote, in line with screenshots of the note obtained by Fortune.
Saima, meanwhile, has openly advocated for Palestine amid its escalating conflict with Israel within the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 ambush attack, when the terrorist group killed greater than 1,160 Israelis and took tons of of others hostage.
Samia said she was placed “under investigation” late last yr “after being kicked out of all internal systems, for circulating a signature-collecting letter to Meta leadership expressing our collective concerns around external and internal bias and censorship on account of the Israel-Gaza conflict.”
Meta’s human resources department then reached out to Saima in mid-February, informing her that they “concluded” the investigation, per her Instagram post.
Her system access was reinstated on March 14 and she or he returned to work this past Monday, she wrote, adding that HR has now informed her that she was probed for “repeatedly violating the CEE.”
“They were investigating ‘concerns concerning the alleged inappropriate use of our systems to disseminate the open letter,’” which had received nearly 500 signatures and roughly 100 personal testimonials from employees before Meta leadership deleted the unique document, in addition to copies of it, Saima said.
“@Meta, please stop internally censoring employees and do away with the toxic CEE.”
The Post has sought comment from Saima and Meta.
In December, Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King shared that his Instagram account was deactivated after he claimed that he aided in the discharge of two US residents that were kidnapped by Hamas and has accused Israel of genocide.
King, who had 6 million followers on the Meta-owned site before his account was yanked, posted a video message through a friend’s Instagram account announcing that his Instagram had been blocked.