November 18, 2022
Last year, Meta allegedly fired or disciplined more than two dozen employees for misusing an account recovery tool and, in some cases, accepting bribes.
The employees in question are said to have used an internal Facebook tool called “Oops,” which helps users who have forgotten their passwords or emails or have been hacked to regain access to their accounts. Oops, an abbreviation for Online Operations, should meanwhile be used on a case-by-case basis to help friends, family, business partners and public figures restore their Facebook accounts by filling out a form.
According to the report, when people lose access to their accounts, they often try automated reset procedures or contact someone at Meta by phone or e-mail, which many users say is often unsuccessful. Some of these people were able to enlist the help of Meta personnel and subcontractors by filling out a form through the Oops channel.
Following an internal investigation, Meta is said to have discovered the extent of the problem. According to Meta spokesman Andy Stone, “individuals selling fraudulent services are always targeting online platforms, including ours,” and the company will “continue to take appropriate action” against rule breakers.
Contractors who worked as security guards at Meta facilities and gained access to the company’s internal system to help users with problems with their accounts were among those fired.
The sources for this piece include an article in BusinessInsider.
