Sen. Ed Markey called her a “21st-century American hero” and Sen. Amy Klobuchar predicted her whistleblowing would be the “catalyst” for action by Congress to finally reform the social media industry. But under current law, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen could still face serious punishment.
If lawmakers want more corporate insiders to reveal misconduct that harms the public, they need to give more than praise. They need to pass laws that strengthen their legal protections.
As it stands now, Haugen faces the prospect that Facebook could haul her into court and bankrupt her. Like most corporate employees, she’s subject to a confidentiality agreement. Whistleblower laws permit employees to disclose conduct reasonably believed to be illegal to Congress, law enforcement or government regulators. But disclosures to the media are not similarly protected, raising the possibility that Haugen could be sued for breach of contract.
That’s what happened to me.
In 2015, I disclosed to regulators, the media and on my website non-public information about my former employer, Blue Shield of California, that I believed showed the company breaking the law. Blue Shield sued me over my disclosures, claiming they violated my confidentiality agreement. My lawyer tried to get the suit dismissed, but the court ruled that whistleblower protections did not prevent Blue Shield from enforcing the agreement against me for disclosures to the media and on a website.
Since I couldn’t afford further...
KUALA LUMPUR: Two senior officers from the Survey and Mapping Malaysia Department (Jupem) are expected to be charged over allegations of abuse of power next week, says Tan Sri Azam Baki. The duo we...