Meta Platforms (META) is facing a new lawsuit from a former WhatsApp manager who claims he was pushed out after raising security concerns. The former employee, Attaullah Baig, claims he found major flaws that exposed user data to risk. According to his filing, about 1,500 engineers at WhatsApp could view and move user data without audit checks. He also stated that the app lacked a round-the-clock security center and witnessed roughly 100,000 account takeovers each day.
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Baig said he brought his concerns to his boss several times and later to other leaders, including Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. However, he alleges that his warnings were ignored. Instead, he says he received poor performance reviews that eventually led to his removal. Meanwhile, META stock slightly declined yesterday by 0.02%, closing at $752.30.
Meta Responds and Next Steps
After the claims were made public, WhatsApp was quick to reject Baig’s claims. A company spokesperson said Baig was let go due to weak performance and that his story misrepresents the hard work of the security team. Another spokesperson also noted that Baig was hired as a software engineering manager, not as the head of security, as he described.
In addition, Baig had earlier filed a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. WhatsApp stated that the agency found no evidence of retaliation against him. Still, his new lawsuit argues that the problems he found could put Meta at odds with a 2020 Federal Trade Commission settlement that set strict rules on user privacy.
For investors, the outcome could matter since fresh questions around compliance may draw new scrutiny from regulators. The company already operates under close watch, and any sign of weak security may create added legal costs or reputational pressure. However, Meta insists it continues to invest in privacy and sees this case as a dispute over one employee’s record.
Is META Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, Meta continues to have the backing of analysts with a Strong Buy consensus. Out of 48 ratings, 42 signal a Buy, with no Sell ratings. The average META stock price target is $873.14, implying a 16.06% upside from the current price.
