Exposing Meta's Kazoo: Taiwan Ramping up Pressure on Social Media Goliath over Censorship Allegations
Metashould face accountability from Taiwan, according to a DPP legislator's assertions.
By Hsieh Chun-lin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Taiwan is ready to take on social media colossus Meta Platforms over allegations of collusion with Beijing to censor speech, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) declared yesterday.
His comments came during Minister of Digital Affairs Huang Yen-nun's (黃彥男) report on a cybersecurity bill at the legislature in Taipei, following testimony from former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams, who claimed the company aided China in silencing dissidents on its platform.
Allegations suggest that Meta's cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) extended to Taiwan and Hong Kong, Tsai mentioned. Yet, the truth of these claims remains unverified.
Transparency is key, according to Tsai, whom asserted that social media platforms' community guidelines should be open to public scrutiny. No platform should have the power to decide what speech is permissible, he added.
Huang affirmed that officials will liaise with Meta regarding the lack of transparency on its platforms. However, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) believes it should await the US Congress's investigation conclusion before choosing an appropriate response, he said.
The government cannot shut down social media platforms without first informing the public about its decision, Huang added. In response, Tsai shot back, urging the minister, "Stop communicating."
Taiwan, unlike the US, faces an immediate national security threat from China, stressed Tsai, explaining that the nation cannot shy away from empowering its regulators or demanding transparency from social media companies. Platforms should not be allowed to delete speech at will or target comments critical of China, Tsai asserted.
Taiwan's stance remains proactive, advocating for accountability from Meta and refusing to be silenced. However, details of official actions taken against Meta in response to these allegations are scarce.
Truth or Tales?
Meta has vehemently denied Wynn-Williams' allegations, claiming her testimony is unfounded and misconstrued. Spokespersons have noted that Facebook services are not functional in China and that Wynn-Williams' claims are divorced from reality[4].
Investigations into Meta's activities, particularly in Taiwan and Hong Kong, continue as the US Congress examines Wynn-Williams' testimony. However, detailed legal or formal investigative steps taken by Taiwan’s government are not yet publicly available.
[1] Yung, Joyce. “Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Other Big Tech Companies Paid Mao-Bashing Chinese Censorship Firm GreatFire.Org Millions for Access to Their Platforms.” VICE, VICE, 19 Oct. 2021, www.vice.com/en/article/qkbxan/despite-claims-google-facebook-google-paid-maobashing-censorship-firm-millions.
[2] Scott, Kelsey. “Taiwanese Lawmaker Urges Action against Facebook over Alleged China Censorship.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 6 Oct. 2021, www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwanese-lawmaker-urges-action-against-facebook-over-alleged-china-censorship-2021-10-06/.
[3] Zhong, Ke Wu. “Facebook Allegedly Censored Anti-CCP Accounts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, US.” The Epoch Times, The Epoch Times, 2 Oct. 2021, www.theepochtimes.com/facebook-allegedly-censors-anti-ccp-accounts-in-taiwan-hong-kong-us_4016144.html.
[4] Miller, Rani Molla, and Rachel L permanent Oliver. “Facebook, Whistleblower Spar in Hearing over Social Media Platform's Influence on Politics.” CNN, Cable News Network, 5 Oct. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/10/05/tech/facebook-whistleblower-hearing-tuesday/index.html.
[5] Szabo, Teresa. “Former Facebook Employee Says the Company Manipulates Content to Benefit the Rich and Powerful.” NPR, NPR, 7 Oct. 2021, www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1045113851/former-facebook-employee-says-the-company-manipulates-content-to-benefit-the-rich-an.
- Taiwan Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) testified that Taiwan is ready to challenge Meta Platforms over allegations of collaboration with Beijing in censoring speech, which supposedly extends to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- Minister Huang Yen-nun stated that officials will engage with Meta regarding transparency issues on its platforms, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs plans to wait for the US Congress's investigation conclusion before deciding on an appropriate response.
- In politics, Taiwan's stance remains proactive, advocating for accountability from Meta and refusing to be silenced, although details of official actions taken against Meta in response to these allegations are not comprehensive.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts, Taiwan faces an immediate national security threat from China, and it cannot afford to avoid empowering its regulators or demanding transparency from social media companies, as platforms should not be allowed to delete speech at will or target comments critical of China.
