<h2><strong>Facebook Accused of Working 'Hand in Glove' with China</strong></h2> <h3>Whistleblower Alleges Facebook's Close Ties with Beijing</h3> A former senior Facebook executive has alleged that the social media giant worked "hand in glove" with the Chinese government, considering ways to censor and control content in China. Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former global public policy director at Facebook, claims that in exchange for market access, Facebook’s founder <strong>Mark Zuckerberg</strong> was open to <strong>hiding viral posts</strong> until they could be reviewed by Chinese authorities. These allegations are part of her new book and a <strong>whistleblower complaint</strong> she has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), reviewed by the BBC. <h3>Facebook’s Alleged Cooperation with China</h3> Wynn-Williams claims that during negotiations with the Chinese government in the mid-2010s: <ul> <li>Facebook considered granting <strong>Chinese authorities future access</strong> to user data.</li> <li>Zuckerberg was <strong>obsessed</strong> with breaking into the Chinese market, referring to it as his <strong>"white whale."</strong></li> <li>Facebook developed a <strong>censorship tool</strong> to comply with China's strict content control regulations.</li> <li>The company <strong>revealed software details</strong> to Chinese officials, allowing them to test Facebook’s censorship technology.</li> </ul> <blockquote><strong>Wynn-Williams:</strong> <em>"He was working hand in glove with the Chinese Communist Party, building a censorship tool… the opposite of the principles Facebook claims to uphold."</em></blockquote> Facebook’s parent company, <strong>Meta</strong>, responded that these claims were <strong>widely reported at the time</strong> and insisted that the company ultimately chose not to proceed with the plans. <h3>Meta's Defense and Response</h3> Meta maintains that: <ul> <li>Zuckerberg’s <strong>2019 public comments</strong> stated, <em>"We could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in."</em></li> <li>Meta <strong>terminated Wynn-Williams in 2017</strong> due to <strong>poor performance and toxic behavior</strong>.</li> <li>The allegations are an attempt to sell books, not genuine whistleblowing.</li> <li>Meta has launched <strong>legal action</strong> in the U.S. to stop the distribution of <strong>allegedly defamatory and false claims</strong>.</li> </ul> <h3>Targeting Vulnerable Teens?</h3> Wynn-Williams also accuses Facebook of using its <strong>algorithms to target vulnerable teenagers</strong> for advertisers. She claims: <ul> <li>Facebook’s system could <strong>identify when teens felt worthless or unhappy</strong>.</li> <li>The platform <strong>tracked deleted selfies</strong>, notifying beauty companies to target these users with ads.</li> <li>She <strong>pushed back</strong> on these practices but found resistance from executives who saw it as a <strong>profitable advertising strategy</strong>.</li> </ul> <blockquote><strong>Wynn-Williams:</strong> <em>"The business side thought this was exactly what we should be doing. Young people are a key advertising segment."</em></blockquote> Meta <strong>denies</strong> these allegations, stating: <ul> <li>It has <strong>never used emotional states to target ads</strong>.</li> <li>It introduced <strong>Teen Accounts with protections</strong>.</li> <li>It gives parents <strong>more control over their teens’ social media use</strong>.</li> </ul> <h3>Wynn-Williams' Exit and Legal Battle</h3> Meta insists that Wynn-Williams was fired not just for <strong>poor performance</strong>, but also for making <strong>"misleading and unfounded harassment allegations."</strong> However, she claims she was dismissed after <strong>reporting inappropriate comments</strong> from a senior executive, <strong>Joel Kaplan</strong> (Meta's current global affairs chief). <blockquote><strong>Meta’s statement:</strong> <em>"She has been paid by anti-Facebook activists and is not a whistleblower."</em></blockquote> A legal representative for Wynn-Williams countered: <em>"Meta has made false and inconsistent statements about Sarah… The book speaks for itself."</em> <h3>Why Speak Out Now?</h3> Wynn-Williams argues that Meta holds <strong>immense influence</strong> over society and politics, and the public needs to understand its inner workings. <blockquote><strong>Wynn-Williams:</strong> <em>"Tech and political leaders are merging forces. We need to ensure we get the future we deserve."</em></blockquote> With Meta denying the allegations and pursuing legal action, the debate over <strong>Facebook’s ethics, business practices, and role in global politics</strong> is far from over. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly820v99ppo"><em>Source</em></a>