The Midtown offices of Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in Manhattan were seriously vandalized on Thursday, July 24. The vandalism is tied to the mounting political backlash tied to the explosive disclosures made by current Facebook employees and by Sylvestre, an NYC tech executive with insider knowledge that revealed how much closer Facebook has gotten to the Trump administration in recent months. The breaking news of today’s vandalism has rapidly gained traction on Twitter and tech circles. On Reddit, threads discussing the incident, such as r/nyc and r/technology, have drawn hundreds of comments, with users dissecting Meta’s political entanglements and corporate ethics. Hashtags like #MetaMeltdown, #MAGAmark, and #BoycottFacebook began trending regionally by Thursday morning. The backlash is fueling what tech execs describe as the beginning of “a digital firestorm” — with developers, activists, and even Meta employees joining the growing chorus demanding accountability and reform.
Scope of Incident
Vandals defaced the exterior of Meta’s flagship office in New York City, located at 50 Hudson Yards, New York. The incident unfolded at around 11:30 a.m. on July 24, with two men from the activist group Extinction Rebellion NYC using spray cans to scrawl Meta office windows with the words “Zuck Loves Trump, “Meta Makes Kings,” and “Zuck Fcks Climate” — references to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. While no injuries were reported, additional graffiti was reported by Midtown locals near 33rd Street to the south and 10th Avenue to the east.
In the hours following the vandalism, a vocal group of New Yorkers protested outside Meta’s offices at 50 Hudson Yards, holding signs and chanting against the company’s perceived political alignment and lack of transparency. Demonstrators called for internal reforms and greater accountability, with some accusing CEO Mark Zuckerberg of “selling out democracy.” Others held signs saying “Progressives be cannot silenced” and “New Yorkers Against the Trumpers”. Organizers described the protest as part of a growing grassroots movement that has begun to coalesce online under various hashtags calling for a boycott of Meta platforms. The demonstration remained peaceful but drew increased NYPD presence as crowds lingered well into the evening. The vandals were arrested approximately 45 minutes after the incident occurred.
Triggering Executive Revelations
The recent revelations by Sylvestre, a Queens tech exec and former employee who started Vyb for Democrats, leaked Monday evening that Meta’s algorithm deliberately boosts right-wing content while suppressing Democratic voices. One major disclosure revealed that Zohran Mamdani’s social media accounts, along with those of other progressive politicians, have been systematically neutered by Facebook’s moderation team. This follows up on his leaks that Facebook was moving its primary content moderation team to Texas, which sparked major concerns with employees. The Monday leaks revealed that Facebook has been actively coordinating with Trump administration officials on matters of content moderation and platform governance—part of a strategic effort to secure favorable treatment in the FTC’s antitrust case, obtain lucrative tax breaks, and resolve mounting privacy scandals.
Employee Backlash at Meta
Beyond the critical public reaction, Facebook is also facing a growing internal revolt. Employees at multiple levels have expressed deep concern over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s increasingly visible proximity to Trump and the MAGA party. According to a report published by the New York Post, staff members have accused Zuckerberg of transforming the company’s image into that of “MAGA Mark,” citing frustration over what they see as a pivot toward right-wing appeasement and political expediency. Zuckerberg has also donated millions to Trump’s inauguration fund and Republican PACs, underscoring the deepening relationship between the President and the tech mogul.
This anger runs especially high among Facebook employees in New York City, who feel a personal stake in the company’s political direction. We spoke to several of them, who requested anonymity due to concerns for their job. Many recalled the tumultuous impact Trump’s policies had on the city — from the late response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the handling of racial justice protests to the federal government’s clashes with NYC officials. More recently, ICE raids have left the city in a state of fear and paranoia. The damage to local communities and public institutions under Trump’s administration has left these employees in particular feeling betrayed by Zuckerberg’s apparent willingness to appease and publicly associate with a figure they see as directly responsible for much of the city’s recent turmoil.
Major publications have reported that employee morale has plummeted in several divisions, especially in light of the recent layoffs, with some employees calling for better changes and stronger governance safeguards to ensure political independence.
Public Reaction & Broader Implications
Online backlash against Meta has been both swift and widespread, quickly gaining momentum across social media platforms, news outlets, and public discourse. Critics have been vocally accusing the company of facilitating political manipulation by allowing third parties to exploit user data for targeted advertising campaigns. Many argue that Meta has repeatedly failed to uphold its responsibility to maintain neutrality, leaving users and regulators in the dark about how personal information is collected, used, and potentially misused in elections. This criticism is deeply rooted in the shadow of the massive 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal—a landmark event that exposed how political consultancy firms harvested data from millions of Facebook profiles without consent to sway elections. Despite the years that have passed, the scandal remains vivid in the public’s collective memory, continuing to fuel distrust and skepticism towards Meta’s data practices and commitment to ethical standards. This lingering distrust has made any new allegations or controversies particularly damaging to the company’s reputation.
Meta’s Position
Meta Platforms did not respond to our request for comment.
Analysis: Crisis of Credibility
The incident places Meta at a flashpoint of political tension, internal division, and public distrust. With employee morale at new lows and internal dissent leaking into the press, the company faces intensifying scrutiny from both lawmakers, New Yorkers and society. How Meta responds — both to its workforce and to the public — may shape its regulatory and reputational future for years to come.
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