Facebook quietly registers a subsidiary in China despite hardening censorship
Signs hint that the social media company may be increasing its presence in the restrictive market where its sites remain blocked
Facebook has set up a subsidiary in China with registered capital of US$30 million, according to an official business registration, hinting that the US firm may be ramping up its presence in the restrictive market where its social media sites remain blocked.
The subsidiary is registered in Hangzhou, according to a filing approved on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System last week.
“We are interested in setting up an innovation hub in Zhejiang to support Chinese developers, innovators and start-ups,” a Facebook representative said via email.
Facebook’s website remains banned in China, which strictly censors foreign news outlets, search engines and social media including content from Twitter and Alphabet’s Google.
Having a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China does not change Facebook’s approach in the country, the company said, adding that it was still learning different approaches on what it takes to be in China.