Technology · 4 February 2026
Pinterest sacks 2 engineers for tracking 15 percent workforce cuts
Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash
Pinterest terminated two engineers after they developed custom scripts to identify colleagues affected by recent job cuts. The unauthorized code monitored internal communication platforms like Slack to track deactivated accounts, revealing names and locations of dismissed staff. This breach occurred as CEO Bill Ready announced a 15 percent workforce reduction, eliminating roughly 700 roles to prioritize an AI-forward strategy. A spokesperson condemned the action as a violation of privacy and company policy.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs