Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former executive at Facebook, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday with significant accusations against her former employer. She claimed that the company, now known as Meta, compromised U.S. national security by informing China about American advancements in artificial intelligence to facilitate business expansion in the region.
During her testimony, Wynn-Williams conveyed concerns about being involved in a competitive AI race with China. She alleged that the company’s leadership deceived employees, shareholders, the U.S. government, and the public on their interactions with the Chinese Communist Party. Her prepared statements aim to spotlight these issues.
Her book, “Careless People,” which discusses her experiences at the company, has generated widespread attention. It sold 60,000 copies in its opening week and ascended into Amazon.com’s top 10 best-seller list, even as Meta attempted to discredit the book and discourage her from speaking out. According to Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, Meta employed threats and intimidation to suppress the former executive’s disclosures.
Wynn-Williams held the position of director of global public policy at Facebook, working there from 2011 until her dismissal in 2017. She revealed observations of Meta executives compromising American values to cater to Beijing’s demands, establishing a multibillion-dollar business in China over those seven years. She also accused Meta of censoring a prominent Chinese dissident’s Facebook account, succumbing to Chinese demands.
In response, Meta countered Wynn-Williams’ claims as detached from reality, stating that their interest in China was always transparent. Meta highlighted that despite longstanding reports and discussions, they are not operational in China, as reiterated in their statement.
The timing of the hearing is crucial, occurring merely days ahead of Meta’s impending antitrust trial. The Federal Trade Commission’s legal proceedings against the tech behemoth could have significant implications, potentially compelling Meta to sell its subsidiaries Instagram and WhatsApp.