Latest news with #SarahWynn-Williams
Deccan Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
All the President's men
When the world's second richest man, Meta's Zuckerberg, was displeased with the revelations of an ex-employee, Sarah Wynn-Williams, on unsavoury behaviour inside the company, he tried to prevent Wynn-Williams' tell-all book, Careless People from being sold in the US (it had already appeared in the UK).
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Working at Facebook would be fun, no? Ex-staffer gives it the thumbs down
New-release books include an erotic romance by Blanche D'Alpuget and an insider account of Facebook's inner workings. Sarah Wynn-Williams. Macmillan. $36.99. Anyone with even the slightest question about Facebook and its place in the world should read this book. Diplomat and New Zealander Sarah Wynn-Williams thought the social network could change the world in a positive way so she pitched hard for a job and ultimately became director of global policy. Things didn't end well. The book is, of course, only her side of the story, but it makes some startling claims about what goes on behind the like button. Facebook got a gag order, but this backfired when Wynn-Williams was asked to testify before the US Congress. A compelling read. Bob Crawshaw. Australian Scholarly Publishing. $49.95. On a cold, wet Canberra Saturday in August 1947, Australian prime minister Ben Chifley sent out a 42-word press statement, casually mentioning to newspaper reporters including the legendary Alan "Red Fox" Reid that he had "one or two things of interest for you today". The statement announced the Labor Government's intention to nationalise the billion-pound banking industry. The banks fought back with a monumental advertising and public relations campaign, with opposition leader Robert Menzies and his fledgling Liberal Party pouring fuel on the fire. The ALP lost the 1949 election and the playbook for industry attacks on governments was set. Daniel Reynaud. Signs Publishing. $29.95. Salvation Army brigadier William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie was a wowser. As a Salvo, it was in his job description. But despite his fervent opposition to grog, brothels, betting and bad language, McKenzie was the Army chaplain best-loved by the Anzacs, serving alongside them in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. McKenzie became a wartime celebrity for his efforts in supporting the troops, helping to lift their morale and campaigning for those at home to write to lonely soldiers. As Reynaud says: "If the original Anzacs revered him, then we who revere them should pay attention to his story." A.C. Grayling. Oneworld Publications. $32.99. What has happened to the quality of public debate around the world? A.C. Grayling turns his philosopher's eye to the politics of the culture wars and how debates about societal issues big and small can quickly deteriorate into incendiary and bitter exchanges. The combatants, Grayling writes, deploy new weapons: "cancelling' and "no-platforming" on one side and accusations of censorship and denial of free speech on the other. As a result, he says, the task of ending discrimination and promoting social justice is undermined by excesses on all sides. Grayling argues that there are better ways to resolve our differences. Jane Caro. Allen & Unwin. $34.99. Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so if they make the blood-curdling sound of a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, what horrific crime has happened in this dense bushland in the Barrington Tops National Park? Researching for her PhD in ornithology at Newcastle University, Jessica Weston is horrified by the male lyrebird's mating song but police, despite the enthusiasm of newly appointed detective Megan Blaxland, aren't interested. Two decades later, when a woman's body is found near where Jessica heard the lyrebird, she joins Megan to unearth her identity. This thriller is commentator Jane Caro's second novel for adults after The Mother. Chris Flynn. Hachette. $32.99. This book's opening scene came to author Chris Flynn in a dream. He imagined families watching a junior footy game when the kids all freeze and begin singing. For his fourth novel, a supernatural horror, he turns that vision into a nightmare as children playing in a Saturday morning under-10s soccer match in the small Australian town of Gattan suddenly stop moving, sing a verse of Latin and then die. And the same thing happens to every nine-year-old on the planet at the exact same time. As grief and fear ricochet around the globe, Gattan families reckon with the fallout of this apocalyptic phenomenon. Blanche D'Alpuget. Popcorn Press. $29.99. At 81, Blanche D'Alpuget, the author of 15 books, including Robert J Hawke: A Biography and historical fiction like Turtle Beach and Winter in Jerusalem, takes a daring dive into the genre of erotic romance and mystery with this racy detective novel set in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs and the posh manor houses of the NSW Southern Highlands, where long-time morning television host Evelyn Sinclair is found dead in a shocking bondage scene. Who was her mystery lover? Why were long-stemmed yellow roses delivered to her by someone dressed in PPE? And what's with the group with plush pink bunnies attached to their backpacks? Emily Henry. Viking. $34.99. Everyone has a story to tell, but when the story is coming from a famously reclusive heiress, you know it's going to be a page turner. With a rockstar husband and a media magnate family that has attracted almost as many headlines as their publications produced, the life story of Margaret Ives is one any writer would love to tell - especially Alice Scott, an up-and-coming journalist who is striving for her big break. There is just one problem: Pulitzer-winning Hayden Anderson is also vying for the memoir of the century. As both writers try to untangle the tantalising history of Ives, they begin to realise that their own story could be a mystery, tragedy or romance. Love books? Us too! Looking for more reads and recommendations? Browse our books page. Bookmark the page so you can find our latest books content with ease. New-release books include an erotic romance by Blanche D'Alpuget and an insider account of Facebook's inner workings. Sarah Wynn-Williams. Macmillan. $36.99. Anyone with even the slightest question about Facebook and its place in the world should read this book. Diplomat and New Zealander Sarah Wynn-Williams thought the social network could change the world in a positive way so she pitched hard for a job and ultimately became director of global policy. Things didn't end well. The book is, of course, only her side of the story, but it makes some startling claims about what goes on behind the like button. Facebook got a gag order, but this backfired when Wynn-Williams was asked to testify before the US Congress. A compelling read. Bob Crawshaw. Australian Scholarly Publishing. $49.95. On a cold, wet Canberra Saturday in August 1947, Australian prime minister Ben Chifley sent out a 42-word press statement, casually mentioning to newspaper reporters including the legendary Alan "Red Fox" Reid that he had "one or two things of interest for you today". The statement announced the Labor Government's intention to nationalise the billion-pound banking industry. The banks fought back with a monumental advertising and public relations campaign, with opposition leader Robert Menzies and his fledgling Liberal Party pouring fuel on the fire. The ALP lost the 1949 election and the playbook for industry attacks on governments was set. Daniel Reynaud. Signs Publishing. $29.95. Salvation Army brigadier William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie was a wowser. As a Salvo, it was in his job description. But despite his fervent opposition to grog, brothels, betting and bad language, McKenzie was the Army chaplain best-loved by the Anzacs, serving alongside them in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. McKenzie became a wartime celebrity for his efforts in supporting the troops, helping to lift their morale and campaigning for those at home to write to lonely soldiers. As Reynaud says: "If the original Anzacs revered him, then we who revere them should pay attention to his story." A.C. Grayling. Oneworld Publications. $32.99. What has happened to the quality of public debate around the world? A.C. Grayling turns his philosopher's eye to the politics of the culture wars and how debates about societal issues big and small can quickly deteriorate into incendiary and bitter exchanges. The combatants, Grayling writes, deploy new weapons: "cancelling' and "no-platforming" on one side and accusations of censorship and denial of free speech on the other. As a result, he says, the task of ending discrimination and promoting social justice is undermined by excesses on all sides. Grayling argues that there are better ways to resolve our differences. Jane Caro. Allen & Unwin. $34.99. Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so if they make the blood-curdling sound of a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, what horrific crime has happened in this dense bushland in the Barrington Tops National Park? Researching for her PhD in ornithology at Newcastle University, Jessica Weston is horrified by the male lyrebird's mating song but police, despite the enthusiasm of newly appointed detective Megan Blaxland, aren't interested. Two decades later, when a woman's body is found near where Jessica heard the lyrebird, she joins Megan to unearth her identity. This thriller is commentator Jane Caro's second novel for adults after The Mother. Chris Flynn. Hachette. $32.99. This book's opening scene came to author Chris Flynn in a dream. He imagined families watching a junior footy game when the kids all freeze and begin singing. For his fourth novel, a supernatural horror, he turns that vision into a nightmare as children playing in a Saturday morning under-10s soccer match in the small Australian town of Gattan suddenly stop moving, sing a verse of Latin and then die. And the same thing happens to every nine-year-old on the planet at the exact same time. As grief and fear ricochet around the globe, Gattan families reckon with the fallout of this apocalyptic phenomenon. Blanche D'Alpuget. Popcorn Press. $29.99. At 81, Blanche D'Alpuget, the author of 15 books, including Robert J Hawke: A Biography and historical fiction like Turtle Beach and Winter in Jerusalem, takes a daring dive into the genre of erotic romance and mystery with this racy detective novel set in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs and the posh manor houses of the NSW Southern Highlands, where long-time morning television host Evelyn Sinclair is found dead in a shocking bondage scene. Who was her mystery lover? Why were long-stemmed yellow roses delivered to her by someone dressed in PPE? And what's with the group with plush pink bunnies attached to their backpacks? Emily Henry. Viking. $34.99. Everyone has a story to tell, but when the story is coming from a famously reclusive heiress, you know it's going to be a page turner. With a rockstar husband and a media magnate family that has attracted almost as many headlines as their publications produced, the life story of Margaret Ives is one any writer would love to tell - especially Alice Scott, an up-and-coming journalist who is striving for her big break. There is just one problem: Pulitzer-winning Hayden Anderson is also vying for the memoir of the century. As both writers try to untangle the tantalising history of Ives, they begin to realise that their own story could be a mystery, tragedy or romance. Love books? Us too! Looking for more reads and recommendations? Browse our books page. Bookmark the page so you can find our latest books content with ease. New-release books include an erotic romance by Blanche D'Alpuget and an insider account of Facebook's inner workings. Sarah Wynn-Williams. Macmillan. $36.99. Anyone with even the slightest question about Facebook and its place in the world should read this book. Diplomat and New Zealander Sarah Wynn-Williams thought the social network could change the world in a positive way so she pitched hard for a job and ultimately became director of global policy. Things didn't end well. The book is, of course, only her side of the story, but it makes some startling claims about what goes on behind the like button. Facebook got a gag order, but this backfired when Wynn-Williams was asked to testify before the US Congress. A compelling read. Bob Crawshaw. Australian Scholarly Publishing. $49.95. On a cold, wet Canberra Saturday in August 1947, Australian prime minister Ben Chifley sent out a 42-word press statement, casually mentioning to newspaper reporters including the legendary Alan "Red Fox" Reid that he had "one or two things of interest for you today". The statement announced the Labor Government's intention to nationalise the billion-pound banking industry. The banks fought back with a monumental advertising and public relations campaign, with opposition leader Robert Menzies and his fledgling Liberal Party pouring fuel on the fire. The ALP lost the 1949 election and the playbook for industry attacks on governments was set. Daniel Reynaud. Signs Publishing. $29.95. Salvation Army brigadier William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie was a wowser. As a Salvo, it was in his job description. But despite his fervent opposition to grog, brothels, betting and bad language, McKenzie was the Army chaplain best-loved by the Anzacs, serving alongside them in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. McKenzie became a wartime celebrity for his efforts in supporting the troops, helping to lift their morale and campaigning for those at home to write to lonely soldiers. As Reynaud says: "If the original Anzacs revered him, then we who revere them should pay attention to his story." A.C. Grayling. Oneworld Publications. $32.99. What has happened to the quality of public debate around the world? A.C. Grayling turns his philosopher's eye to the politics of the culture wars and how debates about societal issues big and small can quickly deteriorate into incendiary and bitter exchanges. The combatants, Grayling writes, deploy new weapons: "cancelling' and "no-platforming" on one side and accusations of censorship and denial of free speech on the other. As a result, he says, the task of ending discrimination and promoting social justice is undermined by excesses on all sides. Grayling argues that there are better ways to resolve our differences. Jane Caro. Allen & Unwin. $34.99. Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so if they make the blood-curdling sound of a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, what horrific crime has happened in this dense bushland in the Barrington Tops National Park? Researching for her PhD in ornithology at Newcastle University, Jessica Weston is horrified by the male lyrebird's mating song but police, despite the enthusiasm of newly appointed detective Megan Blaxland, aren't interested. Two decades later, when a woman's body is found near where Jessica heard the lyrebird, she joins Megan to unearth her identity. This thriller is commentator Jane Caro's second novel for adults after The Mother. Chris Flynn. Hachette. $32.99. This book's opening scene came to author Chris Flynn in a dream. He imagined families watching a junior footy game when the kids all freeze and begin singing. For his fourth novel, a supernatural horror, he turns that vision into a nightmare as children playing in a Saturday morning under-10s soccer match in the small Australian town of Gattan suddenly stop moving, sing a verse of Latin and then die. And the same thing happens to every nine-year-old on the planet at the exact same time. As grief and fear ricochet around the globe, Gattan families reckon with the fallout of this apocalyptic phenomenon. Blanche D'Alpuget. Popcorn Press. $29.99. At 81, Blanche D'Alpuget, the author of 15 books, including Robert J Hawke: A Biography and historical fiction like Turtle Beach and Winter in Jerusalem, takes a daring dive into the genre of erotic romance and mystery with this racy detective novel set in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs and the posh manor houses of the NSW Southern Highlands, where long-time morning television host Evelyn Sinclair is found dead in a shocking bondage scene. Who was her mystery lover? Why were long-stemmed yellow roses delivered to her by someone dressed in PPE? And what's with the group with plush pink bunnies attached to their backpacks? Emily Henry. Viking. $34.99. Everyone has a story to tell, but when the story is coming from a famously reclusive heiress, you know it's going to be a page turner. With a rockstar husband and a media magnate family that has attracted almost as many headlines as their publications produced, the life story of Margaret Ives is one any writer would love to tell - especially Alice Scott, an up-and-coming journalist who is striving for her big break. There is just one problem: Pulitzer-winning Hayden Anderson is also vying for the memoir of the century. As both writers try to untangle the tantalising history of Ives, they begin to realise that their own story could be a mystery, tragedy or romance. Love books? Us too! Looking for more reads and recommendations? Browse our books page. Bookmark the page so you can find our latest books content with ease. New-release books include an erotic romance by Blanche D'Alpuget and an insider account of Facebook's inner workings. Sarah Wynn-Williams. Macmillan. $36.99. Anyone with even the slightest question about Facebook and its place in the world should read this book. Diplomat and New Zealander Sarah Wynn-Williams thought the social network could change the world in a positive way so she pitched hard for a job and ultimately became director of global policy. Things didn't end well. The book is, of course, only her side of the story, but it makes some startling claims about what goes on behind the like button. Facebook got a gag order, but this backfired when Wynn-Williams was asked to testify before the US Congress. A compelling read. Bob Crawshaw. Australian Scholarly Publishing. $49.95. On a cold, wet Canberra Saturday in August 1947, Australian prime minister Ben Chifley sent out a 42-word press statement, casually mentioning to newspaper reporters including the legendary Alan "Red Fox" Reid that he had "one or two things of interest for you today". The statement announced the Labor Government's intention to nationalise the billion-pound banking industry. The banks fought back with a monumental advertising and public relations campaign, with opposition leader Robert Menzies and his fledgling Liberal Party pouring fuel on the fire. The ALP lost the 1949 election and the playbook for industry attacks on governments was set. Daniel Reynaud. Signs Publishing. $29.95. Salvation Army brigadier William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie was a wowser. As a Salvo, it was in his job description. But despite his fervent opposition to grog, brothels, betting and bad language, McKenzie was the Army chaplain best-loved by the Anzacs, serving alongside them in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. McKenzie became a wartime celebrity for his efforts in supporting the troops, helping to lift their morale and campaigning for those at home to write to lonely soldiers. As Reynaud says: "If the original Anzacs revered him, then we who revere them should pay attention to his story." A.C. Grayling. Oneworld Publications. $32.99. What has happened to the quality of public debate around the world? A.C. Grayling turns his philosopher's eye to the politics of the culture wars and how debates about societal issues big and small can quickly deteriorate into incendiary and bitter exchanges. The combatants, Grayling writes, deploy new weapons: "cancelling' and "no-platforming" on one side and accusations of censorship and denial of free speech on the other. As a result, he says, the task of ending discrimination and promoting social justice is undermined by excesses on all sides. Grayling argues that there are better ways to resolve our differences. Jane Caro. Allen & Unwin. $34.99. Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics, so if they make the blood-curdling sound of a woman screaming in terror and begging for her life, what horrific crime has happened in this dense bushland in the Barrington Tops National Park? Researching for her PhD in ornithology at Newcastle University, Jessica Weston is horrified by the male lyrebird's mating song but police, despite the enthusiasm of newly appointed detective Megan Blaxland, aren't interested. Two decades later, when a woman's body is found near where Jessica heard the lyrebird, she joins Megan to unearth her identity. This thriller is commentator Jane Caro's second novel for adults after The Mother. Chris Flynn. Hachette. $32.99. This book's opening scene came to author Chris Flynn in a dream. He imagined families watching a junior footy game when the kids all freeze and begin singing. For his fourth novel, a supernatural horror, he turns that vision into a nightmare as children playing in a Saturday morning under-10s soccer match in the small Australian town of Gattan suddenly stop moving, sing a verse of Latin and then die. And the same thing happens to every nine-year-old on the planet at the exact same time. As grief and fear ricochet around the globe, Gattan families reckon with the fallout of this apocalyptic phenomenon. Blanche D'Alpuget. Popcorn Press. $29.99. At 81, Blanche D'Alpuget, the author of 15 books, including Robert J Hawke: A Biography and historical fiction like Turtle Beach and Winter in Jerusalem, takes a daring dive into the genre of erotic romance and mystery with this racy detective novel set in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs and the posh manor houses of the NSW Southern Highlands, where long-time morning television host Evelyn Sinclair is found dead in a shocking bondage scene. Who was her mystery lover? Why were long-stemmed yellow roses delivered to her by someone dressed in PPE? And what's with the group with plush pink bunnies attached to their backpacks? Emily Henry. Viking. $34.99. Everyone has a story to tell, but when the story is coming from a famously reclusive heiress, you know it's going to be a page turner. With a rockstar husband and a media magnate family that has attracted almost as many headlines as their publications produced, the life story of Margaret Ives is one any writer would love to tell - especially Alice Scott, an up-and-coming journalist who is striving for her big break. There is just one problem: Pulitzer-winning Hayden Anderson is also vying for the memoir of the century. As both writers try to untangle the tantalising history of Ives, they begin to realise that their own story could be a mystery, tragedy or romance. Love books? Us too! Looking for more reads and recommendations? Browse our books page. Bookmark the page so you can find our latest books content with ease.
The Spinoff
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 25
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books' stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, $35) Fictionalised true crime for foodies. 2 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, $30) Unity Wellington bookseller Eden Denyer says 'Believe the hype on this one, it really is that good. Even though you ultimately know how it will end (not well), you can't help rooting for these brilliant characters to topple the odds.' Read more of Eden's review on The Spinoff, here. 3 When The Going Was Good by Graydon Carter (Moa Press, $38) A former editor of Vanity Fair reminisces about the time when print was most certainly not dead. 4 See How They Fall by Rachel Paris (Moa Press, $38) Compulsive homegrown crime about a stupidly wealthy Sydney family and their violent tendencies. Read an interview with the author on The Spinoff, here. In which Sarah Wynn-Williams goes from shark attack survivor to Meta whistleblower. BookTok has propelled Dostoevsky's 1848 novella to bestsellers heights the world over! The book that cemented Becky Manawatu as one of the great novelists of our time. Poet Ben Brown reviewed Auē for The Spinoff way back in 2020. 8 Kia Mau: Resisting Colonial Fictions by Tina Ngata (Kia Mau Campaign, $15) Welcome back to this brilliant book about of essays in which Ngata is highly critical of the decision by the NZ government to commit funding and resource to the TUIA250 Commemorations of James Cook's voyages to New Zealand and the Pacific. 9 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House, $32) Just like, let them? 10 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fourth Estate, $38) Four interweaving stories about the lives of women. (PSA: Adichie's virtual event at Auckland Writers Festival has sold out!) WELLINGTON 1 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, $30) 2 Careless People: A Story of Where I Used to Work by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Pan UK, $40) 3 There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (Penguin, $37) Novelist and activist Elif Shafak's latest, moving novel about how the waters unite us across place and time. 4 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fourth Estate, $38) 5 The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Portobello Books, $28) Since Kang won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2024 her novels have been selling in huge numbers. The Vegetarian is her most well known and for good reason: it is painful and painfully beautiful. 6 Long Island by Colm Tóibín (Picador, $38) The sequel to Brooklyn. 7 Star Gazers by Duncan Sarkies (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) The propulsive novel about the collapse of democracy among a society of alpaca breeders: you'll find greed, you'll find media hi-jinks, you'll find goodies and baddies and you'll find furry, innocent animals and what they can teach us about living a good life. 8 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House, $32) 9 Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Profile Books, $49) Pricey but sounds like a dose of what we all might need around about now. Here's a snip from the publisher's blurb: 'In this once-in-a-generation intervention, they unpick the barriers to progress and show how we can, and must, shift the political agenda to one that not only protects and preserves, but also builds. From healthcare to housing, infrastructure to innovation, they lay out a path to a future defined not by fear, but by abundance.' A magnificent collection of short stories from an exceptional writer: each one is smart, funny and surprising. Read about how Michelle discovered the surplus women at the heart of her book in a wonderful essay published right here on The Spinoff.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta whistleblower details Zuckerberg's fixation on China 'profits'
Following the explosive response to her tell-all memoir, an ex-Facebook director-turned-whistleblower testified before Congress alleging Facebook's close relationship with China poses serious risks to US national security, a charge parent company Meta denies. In "Careless People," published last month, Sarah Wynn-Williams, a lawyer, former diplomat and ex-director of global public policy, who worked at Facebook for seven years starting in 2011, describes misconduct and harassment at the hands of Meta executives, including accusations that the company has lied about its relationship to China. In her book, Wynn-Williams alleges sexual harassment at the hands of top executives. Meta has previously said her statements are "misleading" and "unfound." She was fired in 2017, according to reports, for "poor performance." In the book, she also accuses Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of lying during a 2018 Senate hearing and downplaying his relationship with the Chinese government. Within a week of its publication, the book made it to the New York Times' bestseller list not long before Meta hit Wynn-Williams with a gag order banning her from promoting the memoir, alleging it violated a nondisparagement contract she had signed. Attorneys representing the former executive said Meta is threatening her with a $50,000 fine each time she makes disparaging comments about the company. Despite this, the former executive still agreed to testify before the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism on Wednesday afternoon. She has requested an investigation into the company's potentially illegal activities. "Sarah Wynn-Williams is facing down the barrel of a gun," said US Senate Pro Tempore and committee Chair Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, ahead of her testimony. In her opening remarks, which were made public ahead of the hearing, Wynn-Williams said she worked closely with Zuckerberg and, during her tenure, had a first-row glimpse into the company's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. During that time, she said, she witnessed Meta work "hand in glove" with Chinese officials. Part of that relationship, she testified, included a "secret mission" to get Facebook into China. In 2015, she said, Meta and its executives began briefing China on critical emerging technologies, including AI, with the goal to "help China outcompete American companies." She also said, during her tenure, the company was creating censorship tools and deleted the account of a Chinese dissident living in America at the request of Beijing, before allegedly lying about it to Congress. "We are engaged in a high-stakes AI arms race against China," she said, alleging that China is now Meta's second-biggest market. "During my time at Meta, company executives lied about what they were doing with the Chinese Communist Party to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public." Wynn-Williams testified that Zuckerberg was fixated on earning profits, and she referenced corporate filings that add up to what she says is an $18.3 billion business the company has in China. She also alleged that Zuckerberg was so invested in the company's relationship with China that he "learned Mandarin," "had weekly Mandarin sessions with employees" and "traveled to China more than any other country." Other allegations brought to light included details around tactics used by Meta to exploit its younger users. Wynn-Williams testified that during her time there, Facebook would target 13- to 17-year-olds and could "identify when they were feeling worthless or helpless or like a failure" and would share it with advertisers. "Advertisers understand that when people don't feel good about themselves, it's often a good time to pitch a product," she said. Meta has maintained as of Wednesday that it does not operate its business in China. "Sarah Wynn-Williams' testimony is divorced from reality and riddled with false claims," a Meta spokesperson wrote in a statement to SFGATE. "While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: We do not operate our services in China today." Asked by Sen. Josh Hawley, the Republican from Missouri who chairs the subcommittee, why Meta was "so obsessed" with breaking into the Chinese market, she said that it boiled down to profits. She said Zuckerberg was aiding China with AI development during a time when China was trying to "rapidly" increase its own technological capabilities. Meta's social media platforms are still banned in China due to censorship policies. "It's incredibly valuable to have the brightest minds in the world show you how that technology works," she said. "Mark Zuckerberg sold out America to China," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, during opening remarks. He continued, addressing Wynn-Williams, "You have your integrity. Mark Zuckerberg has lost his."
Miami Herald
10-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Meta Whistleblower reveals disturbing secrets in testimony
Most people out of Silicon Valley didn't learn the name Sarah Wynn-Williams until recently. But she recently published a book that sent shockwaves through the tech community. Before Facebook became known as Meta Platforms, (META) Wynn-Williams served as the social media company's Director of Global Public Policy, a position she assumed in 2011. During her seven years there, she witnessed many things that she chronicled in her book Careless People, published in March 2025. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Wynn-Williams' book provides an in-depth look into the growth and development of Meta and its leaders, specifically how success changed them. As an observer who witnessed many disturbing things firsthand, the author did not hold back in recounting. On Wednesday, April 10, she appeared before the United States Senate and testified about some aspects of Facebook's operations. The implications of what she revealed went far beyond social media. In April 2018, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the U.S. Senate's Committees on the Judiciary and Commerce, Science and Transportation and testified to allegations of data privacy abuse on Facebook. His statements garnered little sympathy among the many people who felt unsafe using Facebook after an investigation revealed that consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had collected and misused millions of users' Facebook data. That type of behavior may be part of why many people don't seem surprised by what Wynn-Williams revealed in her book. Related: Meta Platforms fights for its life in historical antitrust battle In her opening statements before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Wynn-Williams said a statement that captured the attention of everyone in the room: "I saw Meta executives repeatedly undermine U.S. national security and betray American values." She went on to state that Meta's employees had done these things in an attempt to curry favor with China's government and ultimately create a business worth $18 billion. According to her, the company worked with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to "construct and test custom-built censorship tools" used against their critics. "When Beijing demanded that Facebook delete the account of a prominent Chinese dissident living on American soil, they did it and then lied to Congress," she stated. "I watched as executives decided to provide the Chinese Communist Party with access to Meta user data, including that of Americans. Meta does not dispute these facts." Wynn-Williams added that Meta's executives provided the CCP with access to "intercept the personal data and private messages of American citizens," claiming that it started briefing the party in 2015 on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. More Technology: Update from rival CEO reveals shocking truth about Mark ZuckerbergNew app poses problems for Elon Musk and ZuckerbergAI chip startup snubs surprising offer from Mark Zuckerberg According to her, Meta did this with the goal of helping Chinese companies outcompete firms in the U.S. At a time when the U.S. government is highly focused on helping the country maintain its technology dominance; this information is particularly timely. According to reports, Meta has denied the accusations that it ever engaged in practices that could undermine U.S. competitiveness or national security through its work with the CCP. However, Wynn-Williams gave sworn testimony to these accusations in front of the U.S. Senate. If what she said is revealed to indeed be true, the company could face significant repercussions. Related: Meta turns to powerful ally in battle against Europe Dr. Kai Wawrzinek, founder and CEO of Impossible Cloud Network, shared context with TheStreet about how he believes these statements could impact Meta. "The implications for Meta are potentially quite serious," he states. "The US government has never been a big fan of the firm or its founder Mark Zuckerberg and if it decides that this alleged involvement with China is an excuse to come down harder, it could have wide implications for the company that could disrupt the tech industry quite significantly." He notes that Meta has admitted to working with China, speculating that Wynn-Williams may or may not be taken further and that at present, it remains unclear how they will be handled. However, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have made it clear that they want to prioritize U.S. competitiveness on a global scale. It doesn't seem likely that allegations that Meta tried to undermine them in the name of helping China will be glossed over. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
