Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will defend the social media company on Wednesday for a Congressional hearing saying it faces intense competition. He also points to China’s growth as an internet superpower.
Zuckerberg’s written testimony, which was released on Tuesday, states that Facebook has become successful in the American way by starting from scratch and delivering products that people find valuable.
“We compete against the companies that appear at this hearing, plus many others who sell ads and connect people. We also compete globally, including against companies that have access to markets where we are not, “Zuckerberg said to a select committee of the United States House of Representatives.
The committee investigates the size of companies suspected of strengthening their dominant positions in the sector by harming or eliminating smaller competitors. Top executives from Amazon, Google and Apple, are also heard.
Zuckerberg will defend Facebook acquisitions by saying the social media platform has helped companies like WhatsApp and Instagram grow. Facebook owns both.
He will also remind committee members of the competitive threat facing US technology companies from China, saying that the Asian country is building its “own version of the Internet that focuses on very different ideas and that they are exporting their vision to other countries.”
Zuckerberg also renewed Facebook’s call for government regulation. He has previously called for more laws in areas where the company has been criticized, such as harmful content on social media, election integrity and privacy.