Pinterest has fired two engineers for developing an unauthorized internal tool to identify employees affected by recent layoffs, following the company’s decision to cut jobs as it shifts focus toward artificial intelligence (AI). The social media platform recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 15%, impacting nearly 700 roles. While the company confirmed the layoffs, it did not disclose which teams or individuals would be affected, according to media reports. The issue surfaced after the two engineers created custom scripts to track and identify staff members who had been laid off. Pinterest said the employees accessed and shared confidential company information without permission.
A company spokesperson said the engineers acted despite being informed that details about impacted employees would not be widely shared. The tool reportedly revealed the names and locations of dismissed staff and circulated the information internally.
Pinterest said the action violated internal policies on data access and confidentiality. The incident comes at a time when several tech companies are restructuring their workforce to priorities investments in AI and automation, often triggering concerns over transparency and employee trust during large-scale layoffs.
