US Senate Investigates Meta's China Market Entry Efforts, Demands Documents by April 21

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms' attempts to enter the Chinese market. Senators Ron Johnson, Richard Blumenthal, and Josh Hawley are requesting documents from CEO Mark Zuckerberg by April 21, focusing on allegations that Meta developed censorship tools for the Chinese Communist Party. The senators are seeking records of communications with Chinese government officials since 2014, including those related to "Project Aldrin" and efforts to censor content at the government's request. Meta denies the claims, stating they were pushed by a former employee terminated eight years ago. According to Reuters, the inquiry reflects growing concerns over the influence of Chinese regulations on global tech companies. Senator Blumenthal expressed concerns that Meta would censor, conceal, and deceive to gain access to the Chinese market.