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Ex-Meta Exec Accuses Company of Jeopardizing National Security and Aiding China
A former Meta Platforms executive, Sarah Wynn-Williams, leveled serious accusations against her former employer, alleging that the social media giant undermined U.S. national security and provided briefings to China regarding American artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives to bolster its business interests in the region. These claims, central to the controversy surrounding Facebook, now Meta, and its dealings with China, were presented during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, intensifying scrutiny over big tech’s global operations and data security practices, particularly concerning AI technology and national security.
Senate Testimony Highlights Allegations Against Meta
Wynn-Williams, previously Meta’s director of global policy before her dismissal in 2017, delivered her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Claims of Deception and Betrayal
“We are currently engaged in a critical AI arms race with China,” Wynn-Williams stated in her prepared remarks. “During my tenure at Meta, executives deliberately misled employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public about their interactions with the Chinese Communist Party.”
Book Fuels Controversy
Her memoir, “Careless People,” which reportedly sold 60,000 copies in its initial week and climbed into Amazon’s top 10 bestseller list, serves as a detailed account of her experiences within the tech behemoth.
Meta’s Legal Action and Accusations of Intimidation
Meta recently secured an emergency legal order to temporarily prevent Wynn-Williams from promoting or further distributing her book, citing an eight-year-old separation agreement. Senator Richard Blumenthal characterized Meta’s actions as a “campaign of threats and intimidation” aimed at silencing the former executive during the hearing.
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Undermining U.S. Security for Chinese Market Access Alleged
Wynn-Williams’s tenure at Facebook (now Meta) spanned from 2011 to 2017 as director of global public policy.
Secret Efforts to Appease Beijing
“Throughout my seven years, I witnessed Meta executives repeatedly compromise U.S. national security and betray American principles,” she asserted. “These actions were covertly taken to gain favor with Beijing and establish an $18 billion business in China.”
Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Global Public Policy at Facebook, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism on Capitol Hill.
Senator Blumenthal alleged Meta and Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) used intimidation tactics to silence Wynn-Williams.
Censorship and Data Concerns
Wynn-Williams further claimed Meta deleted the Facebook account of a prominent Chinese dissident residing in the U.S., yielding to pressure from Chinese authorities.
Meta countered that the account, belonging to Guo Wengui, was removed due to violations of Facebook’s rules concerning the sharing of personally identifiable information.
She also stated Meta “disregarded warnings” about a proposed “physical pipeline” between the U.S. and China, which could have provided China with unauthorized access to U.S. user data.
The Pacific Light Cable Network project was ultimately abandoned reportedly due to intervention from lawmakers.
Meta Denies Allegations as “False” and “Divorced from Reality”
In response to the testimony, Meta issued a statement dismissing Wynn-Williams’s claims as “divorced from reality and filled with falsehoods.”
The company acknowledged Zuckerberg’s public interest in operating in China, but clarified, “we do not currently operate our services in China today.”
Zuckerberg’s Shifting Image and China Ambitions
Wynn-Williams commented on Zuckerberg’s evolving public persona, mentioning his past efforts to ingratiate himself with Chinese leadership.
Wynn-Williams’ testimony detailed alleged Meta executive deception regarding interactions with the Chinese Communist Party, amid a high-stakes AI race with China. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping
Sarah Wynn-Williams giving testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism on Capitol Hill.
“When I worked there, Zuckerberg sought to have the Chinese president name his child, studied Mandarin, and practiced censorship extensively. Now, he adopts different personas, whether MMA fighting or advocating for free speech. His public image constantly shifts to align with proximity to power,” she noted.
Timing Coincides with Antitrust Trial and Book’s Success
The Senate hearing occurred just days before Meta’s major antitrust trial commenced.
The Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit could potentially force Meta to divest from Instagram and WhatsApp.
Wynn-Williams’ testimony also follows reports detailing Meta’s PR efforts to discredit her following her 2017 termination.
Despite these efforts, “Careless People” has achieved significant commercial success, reaching the No. 3 spot on Amazon’s bestseller list.
Salacious Allegations and Meta’s Damage Control
Reports indicate aggressive PR strategies employed by Zuckerberg’s inner circle, including figures like former COO Sheryl Sandberg, to undermine Wynn-Williams’ credibility.
The memoir reportedly includes allegations of sexual harassment involving senior leaders like Sandberg, which were allegedly ignored by Meta’s management. Sandberg stepped down as COO in June 2022 and is slated to leave Meta’s board in May, with her departure reportedly unrelated to Wynn-Williams’s allegations.
Public relations staff at Meta have reportedly been working intensely to counter Wynn-Williams’s narrative since news of her book emerged, attempting to preemptively discredit her.
Meta allegedly attempted to suppress Wynn-Williams’s tell-all memoir about her time at Facebook.
The book details alleged accounts involving Zuckerberg’s leadership, including former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (pictured with Zuckerberg), accused of sexual harassment.
Details of Alleged Harassment and Retaliation
The book recounts incidents involving Sandberg and Wynn-Williams’ assistant during a European trip, including inappropriate behavior described as “hair-petting, lap-sitting, and propositioning.”
Wynn-Williams also claims Sandberg became visibly upset when Wynn-Williams declined an invitation to share a bed.
Meta’s alleged damage control tactics included disseminating positive comments about the company from other employees to counter Wynn-Williams’s accusations.
Allegations Against Joel Kaplan
Joel Kaplan, then vice president of Facebook’s global policy and Wynn-Williams’s supervisor, is also named in the allegations.
Wynn-Williams claims Kaplan made inappropriate comments and physical advances towards her at work events and during maternity leave.
She reported Kaplan for sexual harassment, leading to a Meta investigation that ultimately cleared him.
Zuckerberg Portrayed as Power-Obsessed
The memoir depicts CEO Zuckerberg as a leader increasingly focused on politics and public image, characterized as a “megalomaniac.”
Zuckerberg, Sandberg, and Kaplan are collectively described as “careless,” echoing themes from “The Great Gatsby,” highlighting their alleged disregard for the consequences of their actions and the harm caused by their platforms.
Wynn-Williams alleges that these executives knowingly overlooked the potential for their platforms to facilitate human rights abuses and grant China surveillance capabilities, including providing briefings to Chinese officials on AI and censorship technologies.
She reiterates claims about Meta using emotionally targeted ads on teenagers and suggests her 2017 firing was retaliatory for raising concerns about Kaplan’s behavior.
Meta’s Rebuttal and “False Accusations”
Meta has refuted these claims, labeling them a “mix of outdated and previously reported allegations and false accusations.”
The company further suggested Wynn-Williams is financially supported by “anti-Facebook activists.”
Meta acknowledged Zuckerberg’s frustration with internal leaks, referencing a company meeting where he addressed the issue following the announcement of reduced independent fact-checking efforts.
Subsequently, approximately 20 employees were reportedly terminated for leaking confidential information.