Meta’s China Scandal: Why Congress Needs to Act Now

With Mark Zuckerberg in hot waters for his questionable intent on getting his company’s apps unbanned in China by any means necessary, prominent tech watchdogs like Paul Rosenzweig, a fellow at the Centre on National Security and the Law at American University and founder of Red Branch Consulting believe this should be something of concern for Congress. He says explicitly, “Congress should drop the hammer because unethical behavior such as this must be broadly censured.” Rosenzweig further laments upon the fact that tech companies like Meta (formerly known as Facebook) acquiring huge profits while playing an ‘instrument of oppression.’

With what looks like a history full of controversies, Meta’s CEO involvement in silencing Beijing dissident is simply another dent on Zuckerberg’s already-shady legacy. In fact, according to Rosenzweig, “how incredibly insidious it would be if apps made by a Western company were converted to become an instrument of oppression in foreign lands.” This once again displays the need for better policing and restrictions on American companies when they attempt to do business overseas in oppressive governments.

The report in question, delivered by Meta’s whistleblower to The New York Times, refers to some emails between the company executive and a Chinese Communist party official. In those emails, Meta allegedly presses for action against the then-vociferous activist-campaigner Wei Jingsheng, one of the most noted dissidents in the country, all in order to curry favors with the government. This isn’t the only incident when the company has come under scrutiny, as others like the acquisition of WhatsApp by Mark Zuckerberg showed how privacy and ethics could take a backseat to expanding market share.

Still, the experts have advice to dispense to counteract the potential progression of similar unethical deals in the future. They suggest employing the “regulation outside” guideline – where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other agencies could flex their muscle when tech firms get too cozy with authoritarian regimes. According to Shavkat Sabirov, a cybersecurity expert, the FTC and other regulatory bodies need to act soon to curtail the harm to individual rights and privacy that can result from tech companies becoming subcontractors for oppressive governments. Now, It’s up to Congress if Zuckerberg’s actions and Meta’s history signify that the company might lose its ability to operate unfettered within America’s borders.