🚨 Meta Under Fire: Congressional Hearings Probe Zuckerberg, China, and U.S. Data Breach Allegations

April 10, 2025

In a dramatic turn of events on Capitol Hill today, Meta Platforms Inc. found itself squarely in the crosshairs of a bipartisan Congressional investigation probing whether the tech giant aided and abetted the Chinese government through improper handling of data originating in the United States.

Stay in the know on crypto by frequently visiting Crypto News Today

Lawmakers also confronted explosive testimony alleging that Mark Zuckerberg perjured himself during his last appearance before Congress—an accusation that could mark a stunning legal and reputational blow for Meta’s embattled CEO.

“If this evidence holds up,” one House committee member said, “we’re no longer talking about a tech oversight issue—we’re talking about national security and criminal accountability.”

CryptoCaster Quick Check:

🔍 Data, Dollars, and the Dragon

At the heart of the inquiry: claims that Meta knowingly allowed or failed to prevent sensitive user data—including geolocation, behavioral patterns, and communication metadata—from being accessed by entities with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

While Meta has long insisted it operates independently of any foreign interests, newly surfaced whistleblower documents suggest that data pipelines were left vulnerable—or worse, quietly facilitated—in exchange for preferred status in China’s expansive tech market.

Internal emails, read aloud during today’s session, allegedly show senior Meta staff discussing “strategic concessions” to “maintain goodwill with regulators in the East.”

---

---

🧑‍⚖️ Did Zuckerberg Lie Under Oath?

Adding legal gravity to the hearing were references to Zuckerberg’s 2023 sworn testimony, in which he assured Congress that Meta had “no knowledge of foreign governments accessing U.S. user data through Meta systems.”

New evidence directly contradicts that statement, according to committee members.

“If these documents are accurate, Mr. Zuckerberg may have lied under oath. That’s perjury,” Rep. Alyssa Monroe (D-NY) stated. “And perjury before Congress is not just a scandal—it’s a felony.”

Calls are already mounting for the Justice Department to review Zuckerberg’s prior testimony, which could open the door to criminal proceedings.

🧠 Beyond Meta: Surveillance Capitalism Meets Geopolitics

While Meta takes center stage, the implications stretch far wider. This is no longer just about social media moderation, election influence, or algorithmic bias.

This is a geopolitical data war, and Big Tech is the battlefield.

As U.S.–China tensions intensify over AI, chips, and Taiwan, the idea that massive U.S. user data sets may have been compromised—intentionally or not—has sparked bipartisan outrage and calls for deeper regulation.

🛡️ National Security Meets Platform Accountability

Congressional leaders are pushing for swift action. Among the proposals floated in today’s hearing:

• Revoking Section 230 protections for platforms that “materially cooperate” with foreign adversaries
• Mandatory security audits for data infrastructure in companies with foreign exposure
• Enhanced criminal penalties for corporate officers who mislead Congress

There are also whispers that Meta could face civil and criminal liability, especially if classified intelligence supports the allegations made today.

🗣️ Meta Responds

As of publication, Meta has issued a brief statement denying all wrongdoing:

“We categorically reject the allegations made today. Meta has never knowingly shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government or any foreign adversary. We take our responsibility to protect user privacy seriously and will cooperate fully with any lawful investigation.”

🔮 The Bottom Line: Meta at the Precipice

This isn’t just another social media scandal. This is Meta caught between a Congress on edge and a global power struggle over the future of data, privacy, and influence.

Whether Zuckerberg weathers the storm—or becomes its lightning rod—may depend on what else comes to light in the coming days.

One thing’s clear: Silicon Valley is now a front line in the next cold war, and Meta may be the first casualty.

Absolutely — here’s an elaborated version of that statement that ties in with the Meta–China data revelations and strengthens the blockchain narrative:

💡 Why Blockchain Is Essential to the Next Generation of Social Media

This revelation — that a centralized platform like Meta could potentially hand over or leak user data to a foreign government — amplifies the urgent need for a new model: one where data ownership, transparency, and accountability are built into the infrastructure itself.

Here’s how blockchain plays a critical role:

1. Decentralized Ownership = User Empowerment

Traditional social media platforms own and control your data. Blockchain flips the script:

• Users hold their own digital identities and data via wallets.
• No single entity (corporation or state) can silently alter, sell, or expose that data.
• This minimizes the risk of data being weaponized — as seen in this Meta situation.

2. On-Chain Transparency = Built-in Accountability

Unlike opaque corporate databases, blockchains are auditable by design.

• Access to data and modifications can be tracked and verified publicly.
• If a platform like Meta were on-chain, we’d know who accessed what and when — making unauthorized data flows practically impossible to hide.

3. Smart Contracts = Trust Without Gatekeepers

Smart contracts allow automated permissions, letting users dictate exactly who can use their data — and for what purpose.

• Instead of trusting a platform’s internal policy (or lack thereof), users can encode their consent directly.
• No human discretion = no coverups, no unauthorized access, no backdoor deals.

4. Tokenized Incentives = Platform Alignment

With blockchain-based social media, users are stakeholders, not just data sources:

• Through governance tokens or DAOs, users vote on policies.
• If a platform’s leadership ever tries to act unethically, the community can override or fork it.

5. Global Resilience = Borderless Censorship Resistance

As geopolitical tensions rise, platforms that are tied to nation-states become liabilities.

• A decentralized social media network is not beholden to a single government.
• That makes it far harder for authoritarian regimes or foreign adversaries to exert control.

🔗 Bottom Line:

This Meta situation is a wake-up call. It proves that centralized platforms can no longer be trusted as stewards of global communication.

Blockchain doesn’t just offer a more secure social media experience — it offers a paradigm shift, where users hold the power, not platforms.

The next generation of social networks must be trustless, transparent, and resistant to coercion. Blockchain is the only tech stack built for that mission.

Cryptocaster.world
Decoding geopolitics, crypto, and tech power shifts in real time.

---

---

We hope you found this article insightful. Before you go, please consider supporting CryptoCaster’s independent journalism.

In the world of media owned by billionaires like Elon Musk, Larry Fink (BlackRock), and Jamie Dimon (JP Morgan Chase), influence over narratives surrounding cryptocurrency and Web3 often reflects their interests. CryptoCaster is different. With no billionaire backers or shareholder obligations, we are committed solely to public interest journalism, covering crypto advancements and institutional changes without profit-driven motives.

Unlike much of mainstream media, which can fall into neutrality traps that obscure the real impacts on retail investors, we’re guided by transparency and integrity. We are unafraid to take a stand in the ongoing struggle against fiat banking dominance and in support of the monetary innovation driven by crypto and Web3. Reporting on issues like FTX, Binance, and Ripple, we bring a bold, unfiltered outsider’s view on global financial disruption—free from the constraints of traditional media narratives.

CryptoCaster remains paywall-free, accessible to everyone, thanks to the support of readers like you. Your contributions keep us independent and help ensure that critical information on the crypto landscape reaches all. If you value our work, please consider supporting us with a one-time contribution starting at just $1 in Bitcoin or Ether, or even monthly if you’re able. Scroll down to find our wallet addresses and help keep CryptoCaster independent and thriving.

Thank you for your support,

Kristin Steinbeck
Editor, CryptoCaster

---

CRYPTOCASTER HEATMAP