Meta's Censorship Allegations: Tsai Chi-chang Slams Platforms, Pushes for Action Against China Collusion
Meta confrontation urged by DPP legislator for Taiwan
By Hsieh Chun-lin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Taiwan legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) has called out Meta Platforms for allegedly aiding China in censoring speech, accusing the social media giant of targeting criticism of China while masquerading as promoters of freedom and democracy.
During a cybersecurity bill report at the legislature, Tsai condemned Meta for its suspected collusion with Beijing, claiming that the platform's practices also extended to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The allegations against Meta were sparked by whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, who testified before the US Senate that the social media company collaborated with China to silence dissidents on the platform.
While the extent of Meta's alleged wrongdoings remains to be proven, Tsai advocated for increased transparency in the company's community guidelines and a ban on arbitrary deletion of speech.
Minister of Digital Affairs Huang Yen-nun (黃彥男) acknowledged the lack of transparency on Meta's platforms and pledged to communicate with the company about the issue. However, Huang indicated that the Ministry would wait for the US Congress to complete its investigation before deciding on a response.
In a strong response to Huang, Tsai urged the minister to "stop communicating" with Meta, arguing that Taiwan's immediate national security threat from China requires a more assertive regulatory stance. Tsai emphasized the urgency of making foreign companies operate under Taiwanese laws while on Taiwanese soil, as any form of censorship at the behest of Beijing would undermine freedom and democracy.
Calling Meta's alleged practices unacceptable, Tsai warned that the previous attempts at engagement with Meta, specifically over fraud issues, have failed to yield results. He highlighted the need for Taiwan to demand explanations of Meta's moderation policies, as the US cannot always be relied upon to champion Taiwan's interests.
In response to the proposed amendments to the Cyber Security Management Act (資通安全管理法), Huang emphasized the need to close "unpatched loopholes" that have become apparent in recent cyberattacks and establish a more robust cybersecurity incident response mechanism. To this end, the Administration for Cyber Security would be granted expanded powers to oversee cybersecurity measures across all government offices and authorized to investigate cybersecurity breaches.
Raising concerns about government contractors and private entities, Huang proposed enhanced regulatory authority to supervise them and elevate rules banning dangerous devices and software used in government offices. Furthermore, government personnel rules would be amended to accommodate the hiring of skilled cybersecurity experts.
The enrichment data suggests that Meta's alleged content moderation systems were used to test "virality counters" and flag content exceeding 10,000 views for review by a CCP-linked "chief editor." Furthermore, Meta was reportedly capable of shutting off service completely in certain regions, including Taiwan, around sensitive dates. These practices, if proven, could compromise Taiwan's sovereignty by enabling CCP-aligned censorship on its territory, imposing potential threats to Taiwan's digital ecosystem.
- Taiwan legislator 蔡其昌 criticized Meta Platforms for aiding China in censoring speech, alleging that the social media giant targets criticism of China while pretending to uphold freedom and democracy.
- During a meeting, 蔡其昌 accused Meta of colluding with Beijing, claiming that their practices also extend to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- The allegations against Meta were initiated by whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, who testified before the US Senate that Meta collaborated with China to silence dissidents on the platform.
- In a push for action, 蔡其 chang advocated for increased transparency in Meta's community guidelines and a ban on arbitrary deletion of speech, arguing that such practices pose a threat to Taiwan's freedom and democracy.
