A prominent Stanford law professor has severed professional ties with Meta, citing concerns over the company's recent direction under Mark Zuckerberg's leadership.
Mark Lemley, who represented Meta in a notable 2023 AI copyright case, announced his decision to drop the tech giant as a client through a LinkedIn post on Monday. The Stanford professor described Meta's recent changes as a "descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness."
"While I think they are on the right side in the generative AI copyright dispute in which I represented them, and I hope they win, I cannot in good conscience serve as their lawyer any longer," wrote Lemley, who is also a partner at law firm Lex Lumina.
The announcement follows several controversial changes at Meta, including the elimination of third-party fact-checking in the US and reduced diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Zuckerberg recently expressed that Meta needs more "masculine energy," drawing parallels with Elon Musk's management style at X (formerly Twitter).
Lemley's decision extends beyond his professional relationship with Meta. He has deactivated his Threads account, describing it as a "Twitter-like site run by a Musk wannabe," and pledged to avoid purchasing products advertised on Facebook and Instagram.
Rhett Millsaps, managing partner of Lex Lumina, supported Lemley's stance, stating, "Money can't buy everyone. We're proud to be a firm that doesn't sell out our values."
The professor previously represented Meta when comedian Sarah Silverman and other authors sued the company in 2023 over alleged copyright violations related to its Llama AI model. The case remains ongoing.
Meta's recent shifts mirror changes seen at X under Musk's leadership, particularly regarding content moderation and political positioning. These developments mark a notable departure from Zuckerberg's previous approaches to platform governance and corporate culture.