Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Whistleblower Testimony to Expose Meta-China Ties and Zuckerberg’s Congressional Statements
A former Meta executive is poised to testify before Congress next week, potentially revealing that Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of the social media conglomerate, may have misled lawmakers regarding the company’s connections to China. Senator Josh Hawley disclosed in an exclusive interview with The Post that whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, formerly a Facebook global policy director focusing on China, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee. Her testimony comes despite reported efforts by Meta to prevent her from promoting or publicly discussing her forthcoming memoir, “Careless People,” which reportedly details explosive allegations about Meta’s dealings with China.
Explosive Memoir Details Meta’s China Strategy
Wynn-Williams’ memoir purportedly contains significant claims concerning Meta’s attempts to gain favor in China. These include the development of a “censorship system” in 2015 designed to allow Beijing to block specific terms. Further allegations suggest efforts to conceal Meta’s collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from the United States Congress, according to Wynn-Williams’ account. Meta ultimately abandoned its efforts to enter the Chinese market in 2019.
Hawley Alleges Meta’s Deception of Public and Congress
Senator Hawley asserted that Wynn-Williams’ tell-all exposes how Meta “collaborated actively and closely with the Chinese Communist Party,” potentially enabling Beijing to target dissidents and endanger American data. He stated to The Post that this revelation directly contradicts years of denials from Facebook. The Republican senator questioned Meta’s repeated claims of upholding values and opposing censorship, suggesting the new information indicates the company has been dishonest with both the public and Congress.
Meta’s Censorship Claims Contradicted by Actions
Hawley further contended that Meta’s attempts to “silence” Wynn-Williams are at odds with recent pronouncements from Zuckerberg, who claimed Meta has learned from past censorship controversies, referencing the platform’s temporary restriction of The Post’s reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop. Hawley criticized Meta’s legal actions seeking to suppress the publication of Wynn-Williams’ book, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of such an attempt to ban a book in the United States under the First Amendment.
Whistleblower Alleges Data Sharing with CCP
Wynn-Williams, who has also filed a whistleblower complaint with the SEC, alleges further concerning actions by Meta. These include an agreement in 2017 to limit an account operated by Guo Wengui, a self-exiled Chinese billionaire and dissident. Additionally, she claims Meta considered yielding to a 2014 request to share personal data of Chinese users, including Hong Kong residents, with the CCP.
Calls for Congressional Action Against Meta
Organizations such as the Tech Oversight Project have urged Congress to take decisive action against Meta in response to these disclosures, as previously reported by The Post.
Senate Inquiry Demands Documents from Zuckerberg
Senator Hawley, also a member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, joined Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in sending a letter to Zuckerberg. The letter formally requests that Meta provide documentation pertaining to its endeavors to enter the Chinese market.
The letter serves as formal notification to Meta of an ongoing investigation. It states that Wynn-Williams’ allegations are “supported by internal records documenting these efforts reviewed by the Subcommittee.”
Potential Perjury and Congressional Scrutiny
“We will undoubtedly want to ascertain whether Meta lied to Congress, if any of their executives committed perjury, and whether they violated their oaths before numerous committees they have testified to,” Hawley stated. He affirmed that his committee will thoroughly examine the evidence and pursue where it leads.
Meta’s Legal Actions Against Wynn-Williams
Arbitrator Nicolas Gowen issued a ruling earlier this week, suggesting Wynn-Williams should refrain from communicating with lawmakers “outside of the context of an investigation.” The arbitrator raised concerns that legislators could publicly repeat any “disparaging statements” made by Wynn-Williams.
In response, Wynn-Williams’ legal representative asserted that Meta is attempting to prevent her from communicating with members of Congress about her experiences.
Hawley countered, “There is a distinct exception for congressional investigations, which is precisely what we are doing. My committee has initiated a formal investigation. Her testimony will be given as part of that investigation, and no agreement or arbitration clause can impede that.”
Meta Denies Allegations of China Collaboration
Meta has strongly refuted Wynn-Williams’ claims.
A Meta spokesperson conveyed to The Post, “We do not currently operate our services in China. It is widely known that we were once interested in entering the market as part of Facebook’s mission to connect the world. This was publicly reported starting a decade ago. We ultimately decided against pursuing the ideas we explored, a decision Mark Zuckerberg announced in 2019.”
Hawley’s Previous Clashes with Meta Executives
Senator Hawley has engaged in public disputes with Meta executives during past hearings. Notably, in January 2024, he demanded that Zuckerberg issue an apology to families of victims of online abuse.
Allegations of “Rotten Company Culture” at Meta
Wynn-Williams reportedly details examples of what she describes as a “rotten company culture” extending to topMeta leadership, including Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and current policy executive Joel Kaplan.
The memoir includes allegations that Sandberg reportedly spent $13,000 on lingerie for herself and a young female assistant. It also claims Sandberg invited Wynn-Williams to “come to bed” during a long flight from Europe, among other sensational assertions.