Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 524 Not afraid of clouds covering my eyes

Across the ocean, a media storm is sweeping in with overwhelming force, far more intense than what is happening domestically.

Just as Zhang Yong and Wu Yi were rushing to the relevant departments to report, major Western media outlets such as The New York Times and the BBC had already begun to delve into the PRISM program.

And the focus is clearly on "potential participants" that have not yet appeared on the list—WeChat, which has the largest user base.

Why is WeChat able to remain unaffected?

The Wall Street Journal was the first to launch an attack, publishing a commentary on the topic, with suggestive lines stating:

"The data management of a social application with two billion users and headquartered in China has always been a black box."

We have reason to suspect that it has either participated in the PRISM program through some undisclosed means, or is serving its home country's strategic interests in another peculiar form.

This article has stirred up a storm. Fueled by certain forces, panic and anger have spread rapidly on Western social media.

On Twitter, hashtags such as "WeChatSpy" and "DeleteWeChat" began to spread virally.

Many users in Europe and America have posted screenshots of uninstalling the WeChat app, urging those around them to switch to other communication software that are considered "safer".

"All my business dealings are done on WeChat, and now I feel like I have absolutely no privacy!"

"This is not a trade issue, but a fundamental issue of privacy!"

"If the NSA can monitor, how can WeChat remain unaffected?"

In the Western online world, various voices are mixed, but skepticism is the main theme.

WeChat North America's official account was instantly flooded with a barrage of questions.

What's even more unsettling is that WeChat has remained silent for hours after the Prism program was exposed, which seems to outsiders like a sign of guilt.

……

Tenda headquarters, COO's office.

Wang Jing stared intently at the constantly scrolling online public opinion on the screen, her brows furrowed in worry.

She keenly sensed something was wrong: "This wind direction is very strange!"

In fact, although the PRISM program shocked the world, it had little to do with the daily lives of ordinary people.

The NSA has neither the time nor the intention to eavesdrop on ordinary people's daily communications.

Moreover, important figures such as government officials and researchers from various countries use dedicated communication tools for confidential communications and would never rely on civilian software like WeChat.

Tenda Technology's name did not appear in the list of international internet companies that have disclosed their participation in the Prism program. Logically speaking, this matter should not have much to do with WeChat.

However, the current situation is that public opinion has been deliberately misled, and it is clear that some forces want to take this opportunity to launch an attack, using data security issues to turn the tables and try to bring down WeChat.

At this moment, Chairman Song Ci is nowhere to be found, CEO Zhang Yong is overwhelmed with other commitments, and the North American branch is too far away to handle the situation.

Wang Jing felt powerless and could only anxiously wait for the emergency public relations team to come up with a solution.

"Mr. Wang, breaking news!" The secretary rushed in, her face full of anxiety. "The trust crisis in the European and American markets continues to worsen. WeChat's overseas user churn rate has increased by 2.3% in eight hours."

Even more seriously, news came from the North American branch that the Imperial Congress might hold a hearing next week regarding WeChat data security.

"Absurd!" Wang Jing's expression changed drastically, and she slammed her hand on the table. "The companies involved in the Prism program are left unattended, but WeChat, which has strictly adhered to its bottom line and hasn't leaked any information, has become the target of everyone's criticism? This is simply calling a deer a horse!"

The secretary fell silent, quietly retreating outside the door.

Wang Jingqiang suppressed her anger and was about to pick up the landline to urge the public relations team when her phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

I quickly looked down and saw that the Tenda executives' work group had received a new message.

After reading it carefully, the gloom on my face immediately disappeared, and my mind relaxed. I felt like I had instantly found my anchor.

The sender was a Song Dynasty poet, and the message was concise and to the point:

"I have arrived safely in Los Angeles and am aware of the Prism incident. Domestic affairs will be handled by General Manager Zhang and General Manager Wang, with the focus on clarifying the facts and calming public opinion."

International affairs will be handled personally. Please rest assured, colleagues, WeChat has not participated in the Prism program. The key now lies in the negotiation and breaking the deadlock. I will be based in North America to personally handle this.”

This message acted like a stabilizing force, restoring Wang Jing's confidence, and she immediately replied:
"Understood. Leave the domestic front to us. Please rest assured, Chairman Song, General Manager Zhang and I will definitely stabilize the situation."

At 5 a.m. Pacific Time, the streets of Los Angeles were still shrouded in a hazy light, with streetlights and the morning sun intertwining on the horizon.

Song Ci leaned back in the back seat of the extended Lincoln, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the fleeting street scenes outside the window.

Beside him, Wilson, president of WeChat North America, sat upright, his hands repeatedly rubbing the handle of his briefcase.

A suffocating silence filled the carriage, with only the deep rumble of the engine echoing in the ears.

The two tacitly agreed to remain silent and did not mention anything about WeChat or the "Prism Project" in the car.

The vehicle slowly drove into the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where the Chinese delegation was staying. After a professional and meticulous inspection by security personnel, it was confirmed that there were no listening devices.

Song Ci then nodded slightly to Wilson, and the two entered the guest room one after the other.

In the temporary reception room of the presidential suite, Song Ci strolled to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the sunrise gradually spreading across the distant horizon.

Behind him, Wilson was on pins and needles, his usually radiant face now filled with worry and exhaustion.

"Boss!" Wilson finally broke the silence, his voice dry and hoarse, "They're putting too much pressure on me! I might not be able to handle it!"

Song Ci slowly turned around and calmly looked at her subordinate.

His handsome face showed no emotion whatsoever, but his words carried a chilling edge:

"Tom Wilson, I remember the 'consulting fee' you approved for Senator X two years ago."

And that mysteriously obtained grant in your daughter Jenny's trust fund…

He paused deliberately, looking at the other person's face, which turned deathly pale in an instant. "If the Wall Street Journal finds out about these things, you will lose everything you have now."

Wilson seemed to have all his strength drained away, and slumped down onto the Italian leather sofa.

He certainly remembered those "unavoidable" actions, all of which were "internal compliance funds" established to cultivate relationships between government and business.

There were also those meticulously designed cross-border fund transfers for tax avoidance, each one personally signed by him, leaving behind indelible records.

These actions, once thought to be flawless, have now become a Damocles' sword hanging over his head. Silence spreads in the room, broken only by the ticking of the antique wall clock, each second seeming to torture Wilson's nerves.

After a long pause, the tone of Song Ci suddenly softened, but it still carried an undeniable weight:
"Tom, we are partners, we are comrades-in-arms. Remember, you are not fighting alone, Tenda's global resources are your support."

He took a step forward, his gaze piercing, his words carrying a seductive power: "Hold on, and we'll win together; back down, and you'll lose everything alone. Now, tell me your decision."

Wilson's face showed intense struggle as he recalled the equity incentive agreement that included a "poison pill clause".

If a person leaves the company for "abnormal reasons" or sells company interests, the unvested portion of their equity worth hundreds of millions of dollars will be immediately forfeited.

The company that has unlocked its shares also has the right to forcibly repurchase them at one-tenth of the original price. This means that overnight, he could go from a billionaire back to abject poverty.

He also recalled the $1 million "long-term loyalty bonus," which was directly linked to WeChat's continued operation in the North American market.

As long as the US government does not sanction WeChat on the grounds of data security, this bonus will automatically roll over and increase in value at the end of each year.

The continued existence of WeChat is directly related to his enormous wealth, which is why he has been WeChat's most steadfast advocate in the United States all these years.

But what's more terrifying than the lure of money are those secrets that can't be brought to light.

At Song Ci's behest, he approved the establishment of an "internal compliance fund" with extremely vague legal implications, citing the need to "respond to legitimate data requests from the NSA".

This fund was used not only for legitimate lobbying activities, but also for a large amount of shady, unsavory expenditures.

All of these operations were approved by him, the North American president, and were recorded in encrypted form that could not be destroyed. They were eventually compiled into a top-secret report, which was kept by Song Ci himself.

Not to mention those private matters handled under the guise of "company benefits".

Through the European branch account and a complex business process, he was "legally" helped to resolve his thorny private tax issues.

These operations appear flawless on the surface, but in reality, they cannot withstand the most rigorous judicial audit.

Wilson's forehead was covered in cold sweat; he knew he had already fallen into the intricate web woven by Song Ci.

From the moment he accepted the position of President of WeChat North America, he had already stepped into a sophisticated trap based on interests, fear, honor, and survival.

Behind every seemingly generous treatment lies an unseen thread; every so-called "special treatment" is secretly tightening the ropes binding him.

"Boss, you won." Wilson raised his head with a wry smile, his voice filled with a resigned weariness.

“You’re a devil who manipulates people’s hearts. Tell me what to do. I have a hearing next week, and those damned congressmen won’t let WeChat off the hook easily.”

Song Ci nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. Composing herself, she reassured him in a calm and steady voice:
"Tom, you should know that WeChat has developed to this point without any illegal or irregular practices."

Every step we take strictly adheres to local laws, and all data management complies with standards.

I simply want it to survive peacefully in the US; I haven't asked you to do anything that harms US interests!

Wilson nodded, his inner turmoil immediately lessening considerably. He understood that what Song Ci had said was true.

As the president of North America, he spearheaded the development of WeChat, and every step he took was like walking on thin ice, as if he were walking on a tightrope.

Any violation, no matter how small, could be targeted by the opponent and ultimately lead to defeat.

WeChat has been able to gain a foothold in the US market precisely because of its legal and compliant operations and strict protection of user privacy, leaving its competitors with no room for criticism.

“But the current difficulties…” Wilson hesitated, a look of worry returning to his face.

"Don't panic, I'm here, and I've already made arrangements." Song Ci waved his hand, his words revealing calmness and composure.

He went to great lengths and made long-term plans to ensure that WeChat could weather the crisis of the "PRISM" program.

It was predicted beforehand that once the "PRISM program" was exposed, WeChat would inevitably be unable to remain unaffected and would certainly be drawn into this global vortex.

Therefore, he had to go to the United States in person to keep Wilson, this key figure, in check, and prevent him from turning against him or succumbing to the pressure.

But with the "PRISM" scandal, the fig leaf was torn off, which made the NSA even more unscrupulous.

If one rashly comes to the United States, one's own safety cannot be guaranteed, and one may very well be detained in the United States and unable to escape.

Therefore, he could only come to the United States through this invaluable opportunity of a high-level visit. This was a major power diplomacy event, attracting worldwide attention, and only in this way could he deter the US from taking action against him.

One thing leads to another; in order for WeChat to survive this crisis, they've calculated almost everything they could.

From the day Wilson was chosen as president of North America, he was preparing for a possible crisis.

Those seemingly generous equity incentives and those meticulously designed "compliant" operations are all for the purpose of maintaining firm control of the situation at critical moments.

The more important the matter, the more calm and composed you should be.

Song Ci walked slowly to the liquor cabinet and calmly poured two glasses of Scotch whisky.

The amber liquid rippled in the crystal glass, reflecting the increasingly bright morning light outside the window.

Handing a glass of wine to Wilson, Song Ci began to assign specific tasks: "Tom, you prepare three sets of materials immediately."

WeChat's encryption protocol white paper, third-party security audit reports, and our data isolation solutions in various data centers.

Taking a sip of whiskey, he continued, "Secondly, contact our lobbying team in Washington and have them focus on reaching out to members of Congress who have expressed dissatisfaction with the 'PRISM' program."

We want to turn this hearing into a stage to showcase WeChat's data security standards.

Wilson took the glass, his fingers still trembling slightly, but his eyes had regained their firmness.

However, he then looked troubled: "Boss, the key issue is that, due to deliberate instigation by some media outlets, users' trust in WeChat has dropped to an all-time low."

Few ordinary people would likely care about such complex scientific data.

Song Ci patted Wilson on the shoulder, his eyes gleaming with a deep light: "Don't worry, I have a backup plan! You'll see when the sun shines over North America."

He walked to the window, gazing at the fully risen sun, his tone brimming with strategic confidence: "Remember, Tom, at this crucial moment, what we need to do is not only deal with the crisis, but also leverage the situation."

The 'PRISM' program exposed not only surveillance problems, but also the entire tech industry's lack of data security. And this is precisely WeChat's opportunity.

Wilson nodded knowingly, his glass no longer trembling. He understood that he was no longer fighting alone in the coming storm.

With Song Ci at the helm and Tenda Technology's global resources as a backing, WeChat can completely turn this crisis into an opportunity.

Outside the window, Los Angeles was fully awake, and a new day had officially begun. Looking at the endless stream of cars on the street, Song Ci made up her mind; it was time to take action.

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(End of this chapter)