Mark Zuckerberg is once again facing criticism in China, this time from an influential social media account linked to the Beijing Daily. The editorial takes aim at Zuckerberg's past criticisms of Chinese censorship and intellectual property theft, highlighting his recent talks with Tencent about selling the Quest VR headset in China. This move comes despite Facebook and its associated platforms being blocked in the country.
The editorial, which garnered over 100,000 views on WeChat, accuses Zuckerberg of "dropping a rock on his own foot" and questions his desire to enjoy a "Chinese meal" after criticizing the country's policies. Zuckerberg's relationship with China has been tumultuous, with his initial attempts to court Chinese officials soured by the imprisonment of Lu Wei, the former internet czar.
In recent times, Zuckerberg has been openly critical of China, accusing TikTok, owned by ByteDance, of privacy violations and content manipulation. He has also publicly accused China of technology theft. As US officials review the national security implications of TikTok, Zuckerberg may be searching for a solution to his China problem. However, the editorial suggests that Zuckerberg himself might be the biggest obstacle in finding the desired resolution.
Neither Meta nor Tencent have provided comments on the matter. This latest backlash serves as a reminder of the challenges Zuckerberg faces when attempting to navigate the complex and heavily regulated Chinese market.