A former employee of Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant alleging that it ran tests designed to drain the batteries of users' phones. George Hayward, who worked as a data scientist on the popular Messenger chat app, claimed that the company used a technique called "negative testing" to quietly deplete device power as a means of trying out new features and identifying bugs.
According to the lawsuit, the practice of draining phone batteries puts people at risk, particularly in situations where they may need to call for help, such as in emergency situations involving the police or rescue workers. Hayward complained to his superiors that the practice was harmful and needed to stop, but was reportedly told that the benefits to the larger user base outweighed the potential harm to a few individuals.
Hayward's screenshot of his message to his superior shows that he expressed doubts about the legality of this practice under various consumer protection laws. He was repeatedly assured during his time in team selection that this practice was not something they did, yet it continued.
The lawsuit claims that after Hayward raised concerns in July 2022, he faced retaliation in the form of new responsibilities that set him up for failure. Despite consistently positive ratings in the past, the company rescheduled and canceled several reviews at the last minute, and Hayward was ultimately given poor performance ratings. He was later terminated, allegedly as part of a reduction in force in retaliation for his objections.
Although the lawsuit, which sought unspecified damages, was initially filed in Manhattan Federal Court, it has since been withdrawn so that Hayward can proceed with arbitration.
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