A U.S. Senate investigative subcommittee has launched a review into Meta Platforms’ attempts to gain access to the Chinese market, demanding extensive documentation from the company.
The inquiry, led by Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Senator Josh Hawley, focuses on allegations that Meta developed censorship tools for the Chinese Communist Party as part of its strategy to enter the market.
The senators have requested Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to provide records of all communications and meetings with Chinese government officials since 2014, with a deadline set for April 21. The investigation stems from claims in the book “Careless People” by former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams, which alleges that Meta devised a “three-year plan” called “Project Aldrin” to penetrate the Chinese market.
Meta has denied the accusations, stating that the claims are based on information from a former employee terminated eight years ago. The company emphasized that it does not operate services in China and abandoned its plans to enter the market in 2019.
The senators have also sought records related to Meta’s subsidiaries, app launches in China, and communications about “Project Aldrin.” Additionally, they are investigating efforts to censor content at the request of the Chinese government and an abandoned undersea telecommunications cable project between California and Hong Kong.
The inquiry raises serious concerns about Meta’s practices, with Senator Blumenthal describing whistleblower documents as “chilling” and indicative of a company willing to compromise principles for market access.
