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Meta Whistleblower Testifies on Capitol Hill, Accuses Zuckerberg of ‘Shapeshifting’ for Power
Meta’s latest whistleblower, Sarah Wynn-Williams, received a favorable response on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The author of Careless People, who alleges the tech giant attempted to silence her, described Meta’s Chief Executive as someone prepared to morph into any persona to gain influence. Her testimony before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism adds another layer to ongoing scrutiny of Meta’s practices and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s evolving public image.
Lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism readily embraced this perspective. Their reactions highlight that despite CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent efforts to align with right-leaning political positions, his reputation in Washington D.C. remains largely unchanged. This comes even as he is reportedly lobbying former President Donald Trump to withdraw the government’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta.
Hawley Questions Zuckerberg’s Free Speech Stance
“He has recently attempted a transformation, portraying himself as a staunch advocate for free speech, after years of championing censorship in China and domestically,” stated subcommittee Chair Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Hawley referenced persistent conservative claims that Meta has suppressed content related to vaccine skepticism and the Hunter Biden laptop story. “Now, all of that is seemingly forgotten. He now appears on shows like Joe Rogan’s proclaiming himself to be a ‘Mr. Free Speech,’ a ‘Mr. MAGA,’ a completely transformed individual, and presenting his company as entirely new. Do you find this latest reinvention of Mark Zuckerberg credible?” Hawley inquired.
Whistleblower Cites Meta’s Efforts to Silence Her Book
“If he genuinely supports freedom of speech, why is he actively trying to silence me?” Wynn-Williams countered. She explained that Meta successfully persuaded an arbitrator to compel her to cease making critical statements and to halt the further publication and promotion of her book. The book, titled Careless People, reportedly details Meta’s alleged relationships with the Chinese government and accusations of sexual harassment against a senior executive. In response, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone has labeled Careless People as “defamatory.” However, the book’s publisher has publicly declared its intention to “continue to support and promote it.”
“We don’t know what the next costume’s going to be, but it will be something different”
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Accusations of Prioritizing China and National Security Risks
Wynn-Williams elaborated to Senator Hawley, stating that Zuckerberg “is an individual who adopts numerous guises. During my tenure there, his ambition was for the president of China to name his firstborn child. He was learning Mandarin, and he was indulging in censorship wholeheartedly. Now, his latest guise is centered on MMA fighting or free speech. We are uncertain about his next persona, but it will undoubtedly be distinct. It is consistently about whatever path advances him closer to power.”
During the hearing, Wynn-Williams testified that throughout her employment at Meta from 2011 to 2017, Meta and Zuckerberg were prepared to “undermine American national security” to cultivate favor with the Chinese government. She accused Meta of developing “censorship tools” intended for use by the Chinese government to suppress dissent and of providing the Chinese Communist Party with data on American users.
Meta Denies Allegations, Calls Testimony ‘False’
In a released statement, Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels dismissed Wynn-Williams’ testimony as “divorced from reality and filled with inaccuracies.” Daniels acknowledged, “While Mark Zuckerberg openly expressed our interest in offering our services in China, and these details were widely reported starting over a decade ago, the reality is: we do not currently operate our services in China.”
Antitrust Concerns and China’s Influence Raised
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) expressed that she found it “ironic” that China was a central theme of the hearing. She noted that when she previously attempted to advance tech antitrust legislation, “one of the recurring arguments presented to me and others working on this issue was that ‘you would essentially weaken us, allowing China to dominate.’” Senator Klobuchar added, “Your book effectively reveals the degree to which Facebook was willing to prioritize growth over the national interests of the United States in order to curry favor with the Chinese Communist Party.”
Senators Challenge Zuckerberg to Testify and Stop Silencing Whistleblower
Lawmakers challenged Zuckerberg to personally appear and testify before their committee to address their concerns regarding Wynn-Williams’ statements. “Stop your attempts to silence her, to gag her, to hide behind your legal team and the millions of dollars in legal expenses you are attempting to impose on her,” urged Senator Hawley. “Come before this committee, take an oath, sit before us, allow us to question you, and provide the American people with the truth. We will be awaiting your presence.”
Wynn-Williams informed the subcommittee that her testimony “may be the last occasion I am permitted to speak” due to existing legal restrictions. “It will not be the last time you are allowed to speak if we have any influence in the matter,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) affirmed. “My message to Mark Zuckerberg is this: cease gagging Ms. Wynn-Williams, permit her to speak the truth, and you come here and present your version of the truth, if you possess the courage to do so.”