US Senate committee opens review into Meta’s efforts to gain access to China

A US Senate investigative subcommittee opened a review on Tuesday into efforts by Facebook parent Meta Platforms to gain access to the Chinese market and is seeking documents from the company.

A US Senate investigative subcommittee opened a review on Tuesday into efforts by Facebook parent Meta Platforms to gain access to the Chinese market and is seeking documents from the company. Senator Ron Johnson, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, joined by Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat, and Senator Josh Hawley asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about allegations that it worked to build censorship tools for the Chinese Communist Party as part of its attempt to gain entry to the Chinese market, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The senators want Meta to disclose extensive records including all company communications or records of meetings with Chinese government officials since 2014. They want Meta to do this by April 21. The senators cited reports in the recently published book “Careless People,” by former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams, that in 2014 the company allegedly developed a “three-year plan” to gain access to the Chinese market. The initiative was code-named “Project Aldrin,” the book said. The senators’ letter said the “accounts are corroborated by internal records documenting these efforts reviewed by the Subcommittee.” A Meta spokesperson rejected the claims.