Three high-level Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META) executives have been inadvertently identified by name in a California federal lawsuit filed by adult entertainers. Gizmodo learned that the case alleges that the executives received bribes from OnlyFans and abused internet databases meant to flag safety and security threats, including terrorism.
In a reportedly accidental unredacted court filing on Tuesday, former ‘John Does’ were revealed to be Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs (and whom is also former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of the global business team, and Cristian Perrella, European safety director. They are accused of accepting bribes from OnlyFans to use their data to suppress competitors’ reach.
The plaintiffs allege that OnlyFans placed their content on a terrorist database, which caused their traffic to plummet. They submitted copies of wire transfers showing funds sent to the Meta execs through an OnlyFans subsidiary. An anonymous tipster reportedly supplied the documents.
Interestingly, OnlyFans is facing a similar lawsuit from competitor FanCentro.
Meta has firmly denied the allegations, calling them meritless.
“As we make clear in our motion to dismiss, we deny these allegations as they lack facts, merit, or anything that would make them plausible. The allegations are baseless,” a spokesperson said.
OnlyFans made a follow-up filing to say that the identities of Meta’s executives were exposed by mistake, as they were “inadvertently unredacted.” They asked the court to remove the document — but alas, the original filing had already been picked up by then. Gizmodo also reported that in Meta’s motion to dismiss, the executives were referred to as John Does and had entire paragraphs referencing the three defendants redacted.
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