Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
Whistleblower: Meta Aided China in AI Development
In a dramatic Senate hearing, a former Meta executive-turned-whistleblower revealed that the tech giant actively assisted China in its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions as part of a failed strategy to gain favor with Beijing. Sarah Wynn-Williams, during her testimony before a Senate subcommittee, detailed how Facebook, now Meta, prioritized access to the Chinese market, even if it meant aiding China’s technological advancement in artificial intelligence.
Allegations of Undermining US National Security
Sarah Wynn-Williams, author of the memoir “Careless People,” testified under oath, asserting that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other high-ranking executives misled Congress and “repeatedly jeopardized US national security and betrayed American principles.” Wynn-Williams, who previously served as Facebook’s director of global public policy, stated that Meta commenced briefings with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as early as 2015 while pursuing “Project Aldrin,” a clandestine initiative focused on entering China’s lucrative market.
Project Aldrin and AI Briefings for China
According to Wynn-Williams, these briefings centered on critical emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. She stated the “explicit objective” was to empower China to surpass American companies in the AI sector. “A direct connection can be drawn from these briefings to recent disclosures that China is developing AI models for military applications, utilizing Meta’s Llama model,” Wynn-Williams, who was employed by the social media company from 2011 to 2017, informed lawmakers.
Meta’s AI Model Llama and Chinese Advances
Wynn-Williams further elaborated that Meta’s AI model, Llama, “has significantly contributed to Chinese progress in AI technologies like DeepSeek.” DeepSeek’s model release earlier this year, comparable to American competitors but reportedly trained at a fraction of the cost, triggered a tech stock selloff in the US.
“The most impressive deception Mark Zuckerberg ever executed was cloaking himself in the American flag, proclaiming himself a patriot and asserting that he didn’t offer services in China, while simultaneously constructing an $18 billion enterprise there over the past decade,” Wynn-Williams stated.
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“And he persists in draping himself in the flag as we transition into the next era of artificial intelligence,” she added.
Efforts to Ingratiate with Beijing
Wynn-Williams explained that Meta regarded these technology briefings with senior Chinese officials as part of the “value proposition” intended to secure favor from Beijing and gain entry into the Chinese market.
Censorship System and Dissident Accounts
The whistleblower also detailed claims that Meta developed a “censorship apparatus” in 2015 at the behest of the CCP, potentially exposing American user data. She further alleged that Meta consented to block accounts in 2017 operated by Guo Wengui, a self-exiled Chinese billionaire and political dissident, following pressure from China.
Senate Committee’s Response and Meta’s Denial
Senate Judiciary Committee chair Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) criticized Meta for attempting to silence Wynn-Williams, highlighting a $50,000 penalty she purportedly faces for “every public mention of Facebook” due to an arbitration ruling.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone clarified that the $50,000 figure originated from Wynn-Williams’ separation agreement when she departed the company in 2017 and pertains to any breach of contract, not solely disparagement.
Meta discontinued its endeavors to penetrate the Chinese market in 2019.
Stone dismissed Wynn-Williams’ “testimony as detached from reality and filled with inaccuracies.”
“While Mark Zuckerberg openly expressed our interest in offering our services in China, details of which were widely reported starting over a decade ago, the reality is: we do not operate our services in China today,” the spokesperson asserted.
Investigation into Potential Illegal Conduct
Hawley, who previously indicated to The Post his intention to investigate instances where Facebook allegedly provided false testimony to Congress regarding its China ties, announced he is pursuing a “comprehensive investigation into potential unlawful conduct by Facebook.”
During the hearing, Hawley referenced internal communications from 2017 where Facebook employees discussed removing the dissident’s account. Months later, a Facebook executive testified to the Senate that the action was taken through standard procedures.
“Facebook yielded to direct pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, deliberated internally, planned accordingly, and subsequently misrepresented the facts to Congress,” Hawley contended.
Concerns Over Misleading Congress and Data Privacy
Hawley suggested Zuckerberg potentially misled Congress regarding the extent of communication with China, contrasting it with Wynn-Williams’ assertion of regular contact between top executives and Beijing. He also indicated potential violations of a 2012 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission concerning user data privacy.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, also present at the hearing, expressed concern that Facebook’s attempts to penalize Wynn-Williams for whistleblowing “could easily be misused to suppress her voice.”
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal characterized Meta’s actions as “disgusting and the epitome of hypocrisy for a supposed free speech advocate like Mark Zuckerberg and Meta, to employ threats and intimidation to silence you.”
Accusations of Selling Out America to China
“The American public is going to be deeply outraged that Mark Zuckerberg betrayed America to China, jeopardizing our national security for financial gain,” Blumenthal added.
“Rotten Company Culture” Allegations
In her memoir, Wynn-Williams depicted what she described as a “toxic corporate culture” extending to Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and current top policy executive Joel Kaplan.
The memoir included allegations of Sandberg spending $13,000 on lingerie and inviting Wynn-Williams to “come to bed” during an international flight, among other sensational claims.
Calls for Congressional Action
As previously reported by The Post, watchdogs like the Tech Oversight Project have urged Congress to take decisive action against Meta regarding its dealings with China.