Meta’s China ambitions led to extreme censorship efforts, whistleblower alleges

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, went to extraordinary lengths to gain entry into China’s lucrative market, including implementing a censorship system and suppressing political dissent, according to a whistleblower complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The complaint, submitted by former global policy director Sarah Wynn-Williams, claims Meta was willing to grant the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) significant control over social media content in the country, even allowing a chief editor to remove posts or shut down the platform during times of social unrest. 

Wynn-Williams, who was fired in 2017, supports her allegations with internal Meta documents reviewed by The Washington Post.

Meta’s Censorship Concessions

According to the complaint, Meta developed a censorship framework in 2015 to facilitate its entry into China. The company proposed installing a content oversight figure who would have the authority to manage what appeared on the platform. Meta also allegedly agreed to crack down on a high-profile US-based Chinese dissident’s account following pressure from a senior Chinese official.

In addition, Chinese government representatives urged Meta to store Chinese user data in local data centres, a move critics argue would have increased the CCP’s ability to surveil its citizens.

Misleading Regulators and Internal Discussions

The complaint alleged that Meta executives “stonewalled” or provided misleading information to US regulators and investors regarding its efforts to enter the Chinese market. Wynn-Williams alleged the company was not transparent about the extent of its negotiations and concessions to Beijing.

Documents in the complaint suggest that Meta’s leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, actively courted Chinese officials. Zuckerberg wrote a blurb for CCP Secretary Xi Jinping’s book, The Governance of China, and displayed it on his desk during a visit from a top Chinese propaganda official. He also delivered a speech in Mandarin and reportedly asked Xi to name his unborn daughter.

Crackdown on Dissidents and Covert App Launches

Meta’s willingness to comply with Chinese censorship extended to restricting dissident voices.

In 2017, Meta allegedly limited the account of Guo Wengui, a wealthy Chinese businessman critical of Beijing, following a meeting with a high-ranking Chinese regulator. The company later removed a page affiliated with Guo, citing policy violations.

That same year, Meta launched several social media apps in China through a China-based shell company, circumventing direct association with Facebook. However, by 2019, the company abandoned its ambitions in the country as the Donald Trump administration escalated its trade war with Beijing.

Meta’s Shifting Stance on China

In recent years, Meta has positioned itself as an opponent of China’s influence over the global internet. In a 2019 speech, Zuckerberg warned about China exporting its vision of internet governance. The company has also funded American Edge, a nonprofit that runs campaigns critical of China and TikTok, the China-based social media platform.

Meta executives have continued to align themselves with US policymakers opposing China’s tech influence. Zuckerberg stated in January that the company would partner with the Trump administration to counter global efforts to regulate American tech firms and combat censorship. He also noted that China had blocked Meta’s services in the country.

Wynn-Williams, now a technology policy consultant, claimed that Meta’s actions contradict its public anti-China stance. “Meta worked closely with the Chinese Communist Party for years while misleading the public,” she said. “People deserve to know the truth.”

Meta’s Response

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company’s interest in China had been widely reported for over a decade. He emphasised that Meta ultimately decided not to pursue its China plans, a move Zuckerberg announced in 2019.

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