When Jennifer Newstead took on the role as Chief Legal Officer of Meta Platforms, she was aware that she faced a daunting task. It had only been four years since a scandal had tarnished the reputation of the social media behemoth. This scandal involved a data leak that allowed consulting firm Cambridge Analytica to harvest private data from 50 million Facebook users, leading to a hefty fine of $5 billion imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.
In the light of such challenges, Newstead’s approach and philosophy towards compliance came to the fore. In a recent feature, she shed light on her belief that the effectiveness of compliance work is directly proportionate to its proximity to product development during its earliest stages. This philosophy arguably represents her ongoing effort to cultivate a culture of compliance within Meta Platforms.