Patreon Eliminates Entire Internal Security Team in Latest Tech Layoff
Patreon confirms it lays off its entire internal security team, consisting of five employees. The company declines to explain the decision but claims it relies on external organizations for security assessments.
Patreon confirms it lays off its entire internal security team, removing all five employees from their positions. Former senior security engineer Emily Metcalfe announces the news on LinkedIn, stating that she and the rest of the team are no longer with the company. Patreon's U.S. policy head Ellen Satterwhite confirms the layoffs but refuses to disclose the reasoning behind the unexpected move.
Despite eliminating its in-house security engineers, Patreon insists it maintains strong protections by working with external organizations to develop capabilities and conduct regular assessments. The company currently hosts 250,000 content creators who rely on the platform to process monthly subscription payments. This decision raises concerns because Patreon experiences a notable data breach in 2015 that exposes customer personal information.
Following the announcement, sympathetic security professionals across the industry immediately post open job listings to help the displaced workers find new opportunities. These layoffs represent a small part of a massive wave of tech job cuts happening throughout 2022, driven largely by industry over-hiring and corporate mismanagement. The elimination of a dedicated security team leaves many observers questioning how the platform plans to protect its vast financial network moving forward.