Aaron Sorkin says Sony hired outside lawyers to fact-check 'The Social Reckoning' because Meta has 'limitless resources'

Director Aaron Sorkin's new film about Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg, titled "The Social Reckoning," is set to premiere on October 9. Sorkin revealed that Sony hired an outside law firm to fact-check the movie before its release, citing Meta's "phenomenally powerful company" status that "can sue you at the drop of a hat." During an appearance on The New York Times podcast, The Interview, Sorkin explained that Sony "left no legal stone unturned" for the movie, as it was not a "no-brainer" to secure the green light.

The outside law firm's role was to ensure every fact presented in the film was accurate. Sorkin noted the irony of fact-checking a movie about a company unwilling to do the same. The film, based on the 2021 Facebook leak, explores the fallout from the leak and the internal documents leaked by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, who revealed that Facebook knew about the adverse effects of its platforms on users.

Sony's thorough vetting of the film highlights the potential legal challenges posed by Meta's formidable legal resources.