New documents have surfaced regarding Meta’s censored Facebook project developed specifically for the Chinese market. It is stated that the company is working on a platform open to censorship in order to provide access in the country in co-operation with the Chinese government. Internal correspondence and leaked documents obtained by the Washington Post show that Meta has taken extensive steps to comply with China’s strict internet regulations.
Meta’s censored Facebook project officially revealed
Western social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X have been inaccessible in China for many years. The country’s government does not allow these platforms due to strict censorship policies on the internet. However, it was revealed that Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg was willing to accept the government’s demands in order for the company to enter the Chinese market.
According to leaked information, the project developed by Meta for China was called ‘Project Aldrin’. Under this project, the Chinese version of Facebook would be designed to be completely subject to state control. In negotiations with the Chinese government, it was suggested that the platform’s content policies be harmonised with the country’s censorship laws.
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Meta allegedly agreed to conditions such as the closure of certain opposition accounts, the sharing of user data with the Chinese government, and the appointment of a chief editor who would ensure the complete closure of the platform if requested by the government.
The company’s efforts to enter China were shelved in 2019 as US-China relations strained. At that time, trade wars and diplomatic crises between the two countries made it impossible for the project to continue. However, the documents that have emerged show that Meta was ready to make significant concessions to enter the Chinese market over the years.
This shock leak has again raised the question of how vulnerable social media platforms can become to state interference. A censorship system developed specifically for China may pave the way for similar practices in other countries.
