Meta developed a content censorship tool and offered data access to China in an effort to enter its market, according to a whistleblower complaint filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (see original report, free w/email). Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former global policy director at Meta who worked on China policy, said the company created a China-specific censorship system in 2015 and provided internal documents to support her claims.
China's Great Firewall regulates online content and blocks access to information deemed contrary to state interests. The complaint alleges Meta was willing to weaken Chinese users' rights and store user data on servers in China, which would have made it easier for the Chinese government to access personal information, including data from Hong Kong-based users. Meta had reportedly planned to appoint a "chief editor" with the authority to remove content.
Meta denies the allegations, saying the complaint was filed by a former employee terminated for poor performance. The company acknowledged exploring entry into the Chinese market but said it ultimately decided against it.
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