Meta Accused of Colluding with China by Whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams

Former Facebook Executive Testifies on China Relationship

Sarah Wynn-Williams, previously Facebook’s head of Global Public Policy, appeared before the U.S. Senate today to discuss the company’s interactions with China.

Allegations of Collaboration with the CCP

Wynn-Williams stated that the company, currently known as Meta, engaged in direct collaboration with the Chinese Community Party (CCP) in a manner that potentially compromised U.S. national security and core American principles.

She asserts that Facebook developed specialized censorship mechanisms tailored for the CCP. These tools granted a designated “chief editor” substantial control over content moderation.

Censorship Tool Capabilities

According to Wynn-Williams, the CCP-designed tools allowed for the complete shutdown of service in specific Chinese regions or on sensitive dates, such as the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident.

Meta’s Response

Meta has refuted the claims made by Wynn-Williams.

Ryan Daniels, a Meta spokesperson, characterized Wynn-Williams’ testimony as inaccurate and based on false assertions in a statement provided to TechCrunch.

Daniels affirmed that while Mark Zuckerberg publicly expressed interest in entering the Chinese market over a decade ago, Meta does not currently operate its services within China.

Background of the Testimony

Wynn-Williams’ appearance before the Senate was highly anticipated, following the release of her book, “Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism,” in March.

Legal Dispute and Book Sales

Shortly after the book’s publication, Meta secured an interim arbitration ruling. This ruling found that Wynn-Williams had violated a non-disparagement agreement signed upon her departure from the company.

However, Meta’s efforts to limit the book’s visibility appear to have backfired, as it has since risen to the No. 2 position on The New York Times Best Sellers list for non-fiction.

Meta’s Position on Congressional Testimony

Meta clarified to TechCrunch that the arbitration order does not impede Wynn-Williams’ ability to testify before Congress and that the company will respect her legal rights.

The company also acknowledged that its business dealings in China are not confidential.

Previous Chinese Ventures

In 2017, near the conclusion of Wynn-Williams’ tenure, Facebook launched two applications in China: a photo-sharing app named Colorful Balloons and an app called Moments.

Meta highlights that these launches were previously reported and that the company discloses its advertising revenue generated from China in its government filings, despite the ban on its primary services like Facebook and Instagram within the country.

Revenue from China

According to Meta’s 10-K filing, revenue from China reached $18.3 billion in 2024, an increase from $13.69 billion in 2023 and $7.4 billion in 2022.

Deeper Government Ties Alleged

Wynn-Williams contends that Meta’s relationship with the Chinese government extends beyond these publicly known ventures.

She provided documents to Congress, some redacted versions of which were displayed during the hearing by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO).

User Data Concerns

One email suggested discussions among Facebook executives regarding granting the CCP access to user data originating from China and Hong Kong.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) noted that this occurred during a period of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and Beijing’s subsequent crackdown, and questioned Wynn-Williams about the veracity of the claim. She affirmed its accuracy.

Virality Counters and Hong Kong/Taiwan

“The developed censorship tool included virality counters; any content exceeding 10,000 views would automatically trigger review by the designated ‘chief editor’,” Wynn-Williams explained.

“Notably, these virality counters were not only implemented but also activated in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.”

Prior Denials by Zuckerberg

Senator Blumenthal pointed out that Mark Zuckerberg had previously denied under oath that Facebook had created censorship tools for market entry into China.

Data Sharing Risks

Wynn-Williams further stated that sharing Chinese user data with the Chinese government could inadvertently lead to the disclosure of data belonging to American users who had interacted with those Chinese users.

Briefings on Emerging Technologies

She also alleged that Meta provided China with briefings on advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition.

Concluding Remarks

“The most significant deception perpetrated by Mark Zuckerberg was presenting himself as a champion of American values while simultaneously constructing a $18 billion business within China,” Wynn-Williams stated before the Senate.

“This pattern continues as we enter a new era of artificial intelligence,” she concluded.