Republican and Democratic senators expressed dissatisfaction with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s handling of China-related issues during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary subcommittee. The senators accused Zuckerberg of putting Americans’ data at risk as Meta explored releasing its apps in China over the past decade. The scrutiny came after a former Meta employee, Sarah Wynn-Williams, released a bestselling memoir detailing the company’s efforts to enter the Chinese market, including creating censorship tools and discussing data deals with the Chinese government.
During her testimony, Wynn-Williams accused Zuckerberg of being dishonest about his willingness to compromise with the Chinese government, leading to bipartisan anger towards Meta. Some senators agreed with Wynn-Williams that the company had gone too far in its dealings with China. There were also accusations of Meta fighting off proposed tech regulations through deception and bribery.
Senator Josh Hawley stated that an investigation of Meta would continue, and he called for Zuckerberg to testify before lawmakers. Hawley criticized Zuckerberg for his changing public image and doubted the CEO’s recent pivot towards right-wing politics. Despite Meta denouncing Wynn-Williams’ testimony as divorced from reality, senators expressed their outrage at Zuckerberg allegedly selling out America to China for personal gain.
In conclusion, the bipartisan anger towards Meta and Zuckerberg was palpable during the hearing, with senators expressing distrust and skepticism about the company’s actions and Zuckerberg’s statements over the past decade.
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