Facebook on Saturday removed the page of billionaire expatriate Guo Wengui, who is highly critical of China, for violating its community standards, according to a Reuters report published Monday.
Guo is living in New York City due to self-imposed exile after accusations of bribery by Chinese authorities arose in recent years. Empowered by his remote safety, Guo levies his own accusations against China, claiming he has direct knowledge of its espionage operations abroad among other improprieties.
The social media company removed a page with apparent affiliations to Guo and blocked a profile under his name, citing transgressions against its terms and conditions. Specifically, Facebook alleges that Guo’s ostensible page must be removed because it received a complaint that the account posted someone’s personal details. Guo has been using Facebook to publicly condemn China for corrupt practices.
“We want people to feel free to share and connect on Facebook, as well as to feel safe, so we don’t allow people to publish the personal information of others without their consent,” a Facebook representative told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
There are no inklings yet of of who filed the complaint. But Guo seems to be a target due to his political activism.
Facebook says it’s just enforcing its universal guidelines. But it seems as if its trying to at least partially appease the Chinese government, which has banned the social media platform. Chinese officials are actively trying to repatriate Guo — who is seeking asylum in the U.S. — so they can arrest him for corruption-related charges. (RELATED: These Big Name Tech Companies Shout Progressivism While Selling Out To China)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has defended or dismissed allegations of censorship both domestically and abroad, even though China has praised Facebook and other tech companies for their willingness to engage in censorship at home.
Facebook snuck an app into China after years of struggling to convince the country’s leadership to stop blocking its virtual programs, but the attempt appeared to fall flat as China’s 700 million internet users didn’t seem to care much. It is also trying to set up an office in Shanghai in an apparent attempt to gain favor with the country that favors domestic businesses over foreign ones.
“We have long said that we are interested in China and are spending time understanding and learning more about the country in different ways,” a Facebook representative told TheDCNF in a prior inquiry.
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