Meta hires Microsoft legal executive and former Trump official as its top lawyer

Meta has announced the appointment of Curtis Joseph Mahoney, a former legal executive at Microsoft, as its new chief legal officer. This strategic move comes as the tech giant faces a series of lawsuits related to child safety across multiple states. Mahoney takes over from Jennifer Newstead, who is set to leave Meta in March to assume the role of general counsel at Apple. The ongoing legal issues include a significant case in New Mexico, where the state's attorney general has accused Meta of not adequately safeguarding children from sexual abuse and human trafficking on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, expressed enthusiasm about Mahoney's expertise, stating, "C.J. brings world-class legal expertise, passion for frontier technology, and deep insight into the global regulatory challenges facing our industry." He emphasized the importance of Mahoney’s role in helping advance Meta's mission of fostering human connection through technology. Before joining Meta, Mahoney served as a corporate vice president and general counsel for Microsoft's product and services legal team. His experience also includes a tenure as deputy U.S. trade representative during the Trump administration. Since joining Microsoft in 2021, he has played a crucial role in overseeing legal matters related to trade and the company's Azure cloud services. Reflecting on his transition, Mahoney stated, "I'm excited to join Meta as it leads the way in AI innovation and continues to connect people around the world." He expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by Zuckerberg and the Board as he embarks on this new chapter in his career. Microsoft has yet to comment on Mahoney's departure, while Axios was the first to report on this significant hiring move by Meta.