Zuckerberg’s Policy Shift at Meta Sparks Employee Backlash

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent shift in company policy, aligning more closely with President Donald Trump’s administration, has raised some serious concerns among employees, CNBC is reporting.

In a recent Instagram video, Zuckerberg outlined his commitment to “free expression” on Meta’s platforms and pledged to collaborate with the Trump administration to counter global regulations affecting American tech companies. However, sources suggest that internal discussions are being tightly controlled, with employees discouraged from publicly opposing these changes.

Zuckerberg’s stance has fueled uncertainty among Meta’s 75,000 employees, who are already navigating job cuts and restructuring efforts.

Meta insiders have revealed that Workplace, the company’s internal communication platform, is being monitored for dissenting opinions. Employees expressing concerns about the policy changes have been warned that their comments may impact performance reviews, potentially jeopardizing their positions

Beyond internal concerns, Zuckerberg appears to be leveraging Meta’s closer ties with the Trump administration to escalate pressure on Apple. The rivalry between the two companies dates back to Apple’s 2021 iOS privacy update, which significantly impacted Meta’s ad-tracking capabilities and cost the company billions in revenue.

In a January podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg criticized Apple for restricting third-party integrations, particularly for hardware devices. He argued that Apple stifles competition by limiting access to its mobile operating system.

Last month, Meta also filed a complaint against Apple with Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense, alleging that iOS policies unfairly disadvantage third-party apps while favoring Apple’s own services.

Despite past financial struggles, Meta has rebounded, largely due to its investments in artificial intelligence and advertising innovations. The company reported $160.6 billion in ad revenue for 2024, marking a nearly 40% increase from 2021.

Meta’s stock has surged, closing at a record $728.56.