TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Facebook and parent company Meta have drawn attention following allegations that its internal content review practices in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China were influenced by the CCP.
On April 9, former Facebook Global Public Policy Director Sarah Wynn-Williams testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee, claiming that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg worked with the CCP to gain access to China’s lucrative market. Wynn-Williams also accused Zuckerberg of being directly involved in designing and implementing Facebook’s content censorship tools, according to US Senator Josh Hawley.
According to Wynn-Williams, Facebook’s internal review system would automatically flag posts from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China once they surpassed 10,000 views, triggering a review by a “Chief Editor.” Chinese officials reportedly tested the tool and provided feedback, including revisions and feature requests.
These suggestions included capabilities such as capturing and filtering images that China did not want visible.
China’s internet is different from most regions, with platforms like Facebook blocked in the country. Still, some individuals in China use tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) to get around the restrictions, per isuperman.
The allegations prompted US Senator Josh Hawley, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, to send a letter to Zuckerberg on April 11 urging him to testify under oath before Congress. Hawley underscored the seriousness of the claims, especially concerning US national security.
Wynn-Williams also testified that Facebook, under Meta’s leadership, was willing to share user data from China and Hong Kong with the CCP. She added that the company had planned to establish point-of-presence servers in China, despite being aware that such infrastructure could allow Chinese authorities to access data from American users.
She further alleged that Meta had briefed CCP officials on artificial intelligence technology, which she claimed helped China compete more effectively against American interests. Additionally, she asserted that Meta’s AI technology had been used to support Chinese military objectives.
Hawley also accused Meta of misleading Congress in its handling of Chinese dissident Guo Wengui (郭文貴). He noted that while a senior executive had previously testified that Facebook acted in accordance with its policies, documents presented during the April 9 hearing, validated by Wynn-Williams, indicated that Guo’s account was restricted due to pressure from the Chinese government.
Wynn-Williams also said that Meta demanded NT$1.6 million (US$50,000) in compensation for every criticism she made of the company even when her statements were true. Meta responded that the amount was stipulated in the severance agreement she signed upon leaving the company.
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