Meta's former COO Sheryl Sandberg faces sanctions over allegedly deleted emails linked to Cambridge Analytica case

Meta's former COO Sandberg faces legal scrutiny for using personal Gmail and deleting emails in Cambridge Analytica case

A judge in Delaware has imposed sanctions on Meta's former COO Sheryl Sandberg for allegedly deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica case. The sanctions come as part of a shareholder lawsuit filed late last year against Sandberg and former Meta board member Jeff Zients, accusing them of using personal email accounts to discuss Facebook's privacy practices, in violation of the law and their fiduciary duties.

According to a Tech Crunch report, the shareholders also claim that Sandberg and Zients deleted emails from these accounts despite a court order to preserve them. The judge found these allegations credible, revealing that Sandberg used a personal Gmail account under an alias to discuss matters related to the case. The ruling also pointed out discrepancies in Sandberg’s responses to questions from plaintiffs, implying that she deliberately deleted emails rather than relying on automatic deletion features.

As a result, the judge raised the burden of proof for Sandberg’s defense, requiring her to provide "clear and convincing" evidence to support her case— a stricter standard than the typical "preponderance of the evidence." Additionally, the judge granted the plaintiffs certain expenses.

This legal challenge adds to the pressure Sandberg faces after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg recently held her accountable for the company's controversial policies. According to a New York Times report, Zuckerberg pointed to Sandberg as the reason behind Facebook's current “culture” and inclusivity efforts, making these comments during a meeting with Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to former President Donald Trump.

The case also centers on accusations that Meta violated a 2012 FTC order that prohibits the company from collecting and sharing user data without proper consent. Facebook is accused of selling user data to commercial partners, including Cambridge Analytica, and removing mandatory disclosures from its privacy settings. In 2019, Meta paid a $5 billion fine to the FTC for breaching this order and has also faced penalties from European regulators.

A spokesperson for Sandberg has denied the allegations, asserting that "all work emails were preserved on Facebook’s servers."