Meta Secures Emergency Ruling to Halt Promotion of Former Employee’s Tell-All Book

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Meta Platforms has won an emergency arbitration ruling to temporarily halt the promotion of a tell-all book titled “Careless People” written by its former employee, Sarah Wynn-Williams. The ruling, issued by the American Arbitration Association, states that Wynn-Williams must cease promoting the book, which was released by Macmillan, and must take steps to stop its further publication, though the publisher is not required to take any action.

The book, which offers an unflattering portrayal of Meta and its leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, was described by the New York Times book review as “an ugly, detailed portrait” of the tech giant. Wynn-Williams, who was Meta’s former director of global public policy, claims in the book that the company’s executives were involved in unethical practices.

The ruling, issued after a hearing where Wynn-Williams did not appear, found that Meta would suffer “immediate and irreparable loss” without the emergency relief. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone commented on Threads, stating that the ruling confirmed that the book, which he characterized as “false and defamatory,” should not have been published.

Macmillan, the publisher of the book, argued that it was not bound by the arbitration agreement, which was part of Wynn-Williams’ severance agreement with Meta. Both Wynn-Williams and Macmillan have not yet responded to Reuters’ requests for comment on the arbitration decision.

Intel Appoints Lip-Bu Tan as New CEO Amid Transition

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Intel has appointed Lip-Bu Tan, a seasoned chip industry veteran, as its new CEO, effective March 18. The move marks a significant leadership change just three months after the company ousted its previous CEO, Pat Gelsinger, whose efforts to revitalize the company had faltered and eroded investor confidence.

Tan, who served on Intel’s board prior to his appointment, brings extensive experience in both chip design and technology investing, making him a strong contender for the role. His appointment follows discussions with Intel’s board in December, as previously reported by Reuters.

In a letter to Intel employees, Tan expressed his commitment to restoring Intel’s position as a “world-class products company” and emphasized the goal of establishing Intel as a “world-class foundry” to better serve its customers. His optimistic message signaled confidence in the company’s turnaround strategy.

Intel’s stock surged 12% in after-hours trading on the announcement, reflecting analyst optimism about the leadership change. The company’s stock had suffered a 60% drop in 2024, reflecting its struggles amid a challenging industry landscape.

The company is navigating a historic transition, including significant investment to become a contract manufacturer of chips for other companies. Despite challenges in capitalizing on the boom in advanced AI chips—which has boosted the fortunes of rivals like Nvidia—Intel is actively working to recover its market position.

Amid Intel’s ongoing struggles, rumors have circulated that competitors, including Broadcom and TSMC, were exploring options to acquire or manage parts of Intel’s business. Most notably, TSMC was reportedly considering a joint venture to operate Intel’s factories, after the Trump administration encouraged TSMC to help revitalize the company.

Jack E. Gold, an industry analyst, praised Tan’s appointment, noting his deep understanding of both chip product design and manufacturing. Analysts anticipate that under Tan’s leadership, Intel will focus on stabilizing its operations, although any transformation will likely take years.

Tan, 65, originally from Malaysia and raised in Singapore, holds degrees in physics, nuclear engineering, and business administration. He previously served as CEO of Cadence Design Systems, a key supplier for Intel, from 2009 to 2021, during which time the company’s revenue and stock performance saw significant growth.

Tan had stepped down from Intel’s board in 2023 over disagreements related to the company’s culture and strategy, particularly its approach to contract manufacturing and workforce size. However, he will rejoin the board in his new role as CEO.

Industry experts believe that Tan’s appointment brings much-needed stability to Intel, which has been under pressure in recent years. Tan is expected to oversee the continuation of Intel’s foundry business while managing the company’s transformation efforts.

Flock Safety Raises $275 Million to Fund Manufacturing and R&D Expansion

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Flock Safety, a U.S.-based startup specializing in surveillance technology, has secured $275 million in new funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz, to expand its operations. The funding will be used to support the development of a manufacturing plant and to further explore new products, including drones.

The investment has valued Flock Safety at $7.5 billion, a significant increase from its previous valuation of $4.8 billion in the previous funding round last year. With this latest funding, the startup’s total capital raised exceeds $950 million, positioning it among the most well-funded startups in the region, according to PitchBook data.

This marks the third investment by Andreessen Horowitz in Flock, a notable move by the venture capital firm. Greenoaks Capital and Bedrock Capital also participated in the funding round.

Flock Safety provides security cameras and software aimed at helping law enforcement agencies and businesses combat crime. The company has reported surpassing $300 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), reflecting a 70% year-over-year growth. In preparation for an eventual public listing, Flock has brought in Brandon Simins as its new CFO this year, although it has not set a specific timeline for the listing.

A significant part of the funding will go toward the construction of a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgia, where Flock plans to begin the production of U.S.-manufactured drones by 2025. Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock, expressed excitement about bringing more manufacturing to the U.S., stating that it would provide better control over the supply chain and further their mission to combat crime.

Founded in 2017, Flock Safety’s surveillance system leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide insights for investigations, such as identifying car plates. The company now serves over 4,800 law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 businesses, including major retailers and healthcare providers. Enterprise businesses account for approximately 30% of its revenue.

Investing in startups that sell to law enforcement is somewhat uncommon for Silicon Valley investors, but David George, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, highlighted Flock’s growth as evidence of the large market for such solutions. “Flock Safety has one of the most compelling ROI (return on investment) equations we’ve ever seen in software or hardware markets,” said George. He added that Flock’s widespread penetration into police departments and its high market share position it for a venture-scale outcome.