Sen. Josh Hawley says Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams will testify to the Senate

Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams is set to testify before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee next week, shedding light on the internal culture and overseas operations of the social media giant. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., criticized Meta, accusing the company of being “amoral and corrupt” and crafting a custom censorship system for Communist China. He also condemned Meta’s attempts to silence Wynn-Williams.

Wynn-Williams’ blocked memoir, “Careless People,” aimed to expose Facebook’s alleged cooperation with regimes like the Communist regime in China and Meta’s plans to build censorship tools, punish dissidents, and share American user data with the Chinese government. Despite Meta’s efforts to prevent the publication of her book, Hawley invited Wynn-Williams to testify before the Senate panel to share the “explosive” evidence detailed in her memoir.

Republicans on the panel launched an investigation into Meta’s censorship work, focusing on the company’s dealings with China and the potential provision of AI tools to the CCP. The hearing aims to address the same claims highlighted in Wynn-Williams’ book while abiding by the restrictions imposed through arbitration.

Meta’s victory in blocking the publication of Wynn-Williams’ memoir raised questions about the company’s internal culture and its relationship with authoritarian regimes. Meta denied operating in China and labeled Wynn-Williams as a “disgruntled employee.” The company’s past interest in expanding into China was acknowledged, but Meta ultimately decided against it, as announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2019.

Despite Meta’s efforts to silence Wynn-Williams, the Senate Judiciary probe continues to seek information on Meta’s business in China and its censorship efforts. Internal documents obtained by the subcommittee revealed Facebook’s plans to engage with the CCP, partner with Chinese companies to develop censorship tools, and provide user data to the Chinese government. The censorship efforts reportedly extended to dissidents outside of China, including in the United States.

As the Senate investigation unfolds, Wynn-Williams’ upcoming testimony is expected to provide valuable insights into Meta’s operations and shed light on the company’s controversial practices. The whistleblowing saga underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by tech giants like Meta over their internal practices and overseas dealings.