Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, reportedly made extensive efforts to enter the Chinese market, even considering sharing user data with the Chinese government and implementing a rigorous censorship system.
A recent complaint filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by former Facebook Director of Public Policy, Sarah Wynn-Williams, alleges that the company devised a China-favoring censorship system in hopes of gaining access to the tightly controlled market. The 78-page filing outlines how Meta planned to install a “chief editor” responsible for content moderation, with the power to remove posts and even shut down the entire platform during periods of social unrest.
According to the allegations, the company created a dedicated team under an internal project codenamed “Aldrin” to prepare for its potential expansion into China. The revelations highlight the extent to which Meta was willing to adapt its platform to align with China’s strict internet regulations, despite Western social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram being banned in the country due to censorship and local data laws.
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