Facebook chooses values over profits in staying out of China

That’s a thumbs down on China.

In a letter to Congress, Facebook said that it would only provide service in China if it was free from government censorship. In other words, as Xi Jinping’s power over the country intensifies, that’s not likely.

Specifically, Facebook would need to ensure that providing its service would enable “free expression,” and not have undue “privacy implications” — that is, government surveillance and censorship.

“Rigorous human rights due diligence and careful consideration of free expression and privacy implications would constitute important components of any decision on entering China,” the letter reads. “Facebook has been blocked in China since 2009, and no decisions have been made around the conditions under which any possible future service might be offered in China.” Read more…

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