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