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Pinterest Fires Engineers Behind Layoff-Tracking Tool as CEO Enforces Privacy Rules

Leadership cites privacy violations during a pivot to AI.

Overview

  • Pinterest said two engineers wrote scripts that improperly accessed confidential data to identify and share names and locations of laid-off staff, violating policy.
  • Bill Ready told employees the behavior crossed from debate into obstruction and said those working against the company’s direction should consider leaving.
  • The company said it will not broadly disclose detailed layoff lists to protect affected employees, with smaller changes communicated at the team level.
  • The restructuring will cut less than 15% of roles, reduce office space, and reallocate resources to AI projects, with completion targeted by Sept. 30.
  • Shares fell nearly 6% on Wednesday, according to CoinCentral, as investors weighed the episode and Pinterest’s AI-focused strategy.