The tension between the tech giant Meta and Washington reaches a new peak after the recent testimony of former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams, who has decided to break the silence before the American Congress. With statements destined to spark debate, Wynn-Williams raises serious accusations against the management of the company led by Mark Zuckerberg, claiming that Meta has openly favored the interests of the Chinese government in the field of intelligenza artificiale, even putting the national security of the United States at risk.
“`Summary
Former Meta Executive at the Forefront Before Congress
Sarah Wynn-Williams was director of global public policy at Facebook, now Meta, from 2011 to 2017. During that period, she claims to have witnessed internal practices that she describes as “dangerous” and “unlawful.” According to her draft testimony, obtained exclusively by Business Insider, the company allegedly secretly contributed to China’s technological advancements, transmitting personal data and collaborating with the Chinese government to further their global ambitions.
His statements come in the wake of the publication of his memoir, “Careless People”, which already contains serious allegations against Meta. A work that has been strongly contested by the company, which has obtained an arbitration order temporarily preventing the author from promoting the book or making critical statements against her former employer. Despite this, the book has become a bestseller.
The accusations: censorship, data access, and AI collaboration
In the text prepared for his Senate hearing, Wynn-Williams talks about gravely compromising behavior by the company’s top management. According to him, Meta allegedly acted “hand in hand with the Chinese Communist Party”, helping to build customized censorship tools to suppress dissenting voices. A cited case involves the deletion of the account of a Chinese dissident residing in the United States, which occurred at Beijing’s request, and was later denied before Congress.
Among the most serious accusations is that Meta allegedly shared users’ personal data, including American citizens, with the Chinese government, violating privacy regulations and potentially compromising national security. Wynn-Williams claims to be in possession of internal documents that demonstrate these operations.
Another point raised concerns the alleged participation of Meta in the development ofChinese artificial intelligence, through the use of the proprietary AI model called Llama. According to the testimony, this model would have facilitated the birth of the DeepSeek technology, now also used for military purposes in China.
Project Aldrin: the secret attempt to enter China
Wynn-Williams reveals the existence of an internal operation called “Project Aldrin”, known only to a limited number of employees. The goal was to enter the Chinese market at any cost. The former executive claims that Meta even worked to create a direct physical link between the United States and China, an 8,000-mile submarine cable intended to transmit data at high speed. The project, however, was halted by the Trump administration, precisely due to concerns related to the security of American data.
In addition, it reports secret meetings with Chinese officials since 2015, during which critical topics such as emerging technologies were discussed, including the development of artificial intelligence. The goal, according to his testimony, was “to help China increase its global influence and promote its ‘China Dream’.”
Meta’s response: “False and unfounded accusations”
Meta has responded firmly to the accusations, calling Wynn-Williams’ claims “totally disconnected from reality and full of falsehoods.” A company spokesperson reminded that Facebook does not operate in China and that the company’s interest in that market was addressed publicly more than a decade ago, including directly by Mark Zuckerberg.
The company also emphasized that Wynn-Williams was fired in 2017 for poor performance and that the ongoing legal case against her is not an attempt at censorship, but a response to alleged contractual violations.
Freedom of speech or control of information?
A disturbing aspect of the matter is the legal measure obtained by Meta that would prevent Wynn-Williams from speaking with members of Congress, as well as limiting his public statements.
“This court order was requested by a company whose CEO proclaims himself a champion of freedom of expression”,
states the manager in her draft speech.
Wynn-Williams has also presented a resolution to Meta shareholders to request the opening of an internal investigation into activities in China. He has also filed formal complaints with the SEC and the Department of Justice, consolidating the framework of a legal and political battle that promises to endure.
A testimony that ignites a geopolitical front
The revelations of Wynn-Williams come at a time when the technological conflict between the United States and China is becoming increasingly tense, especially in the strategic field of artificial intelligence. In this context, the accusations against the Menlo Park company risk opening a new international-level case, with still unpredictable consequences.
Within the Senate hearing, the former executive concluded by asking that Meta finally be held responsible for years of hidden activities, which, in her opinion, would still continue today:
“I am here, putting my personal safety at risk, because you have the power and authority to hold them accountable for their actions.”
An explosive statement that promises to fuel the political debate on privacy, security, and the responsibility of big tech in today’s interconnected world.
