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Nick Clegg’s Meta Journey: From UK Politics to AI Ambassador

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Samantha Dunn
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Key Takeaways

  • Nick Clegg joined Meta, formerly Facebook, in 2018.
  • The former politician was responsible for overseeing the company’s global policy strategy.
  • Now Clegg is stepping down, soon to be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan.

Nick Clegg, the former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister and President of Global Affairs at Meta will be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan.

His journey from U.K. politics to becoming Meta’s Global Affairs Chief has seen him play a significant role in shaping the conversation around Artificial Intelligence.

From House of Commons To Silicon Valley

Joining Facebook in the midst of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and despite the obvious differences between the House of Commons and Silicon Valley, Nick Clegg has successfully leveraged his political acumen to navigate the tech world.

His political tenure is marked by his role as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2015, where he was a central figure in the coalition government.

As the head of the Liberal Democrats during this period, he pushed reformative policies and a vision for a balanced governance approach.

Transitioning from a career in public service, Clegg’s leap into the tech industry might seem unconventional at first glance. However, it reflects a broader trend of individuals moving from politics to tech, bringing with them a wealth of experience in governance and policy-making.

Clegg’s move to Meta as the President of Global Affairs positions him at the heart of one of the most influential tech companies.

Regulation and the Political Crossover With AI

At a White House meeting  in 2023, Clegg discussed the importance of setting up guardrails for AI, including voluntary commitments by companies to watermark AI-generated content, invest in cybersecurity, and develop AI that addresses major challenges like cancer and climate change.

Clegg has been increasingly vocal in 2024 about the need for regulation  in the AI space, emphasizing that while innovation should progress swiftly, it must also be responsible and transparent.

During a speech at Meta AI Day  in London, Clegg highlighted that despite concerns, there has been no significant evidence of AI technologies like large language models or deepfakes being used to systematically interfere in recent major elections.

“It is right that we should be alert and we should be vigilant, but of the major elections which have taken place already this year, in Taiwan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, it is striking how little these tools have been used in a systematic basis to really try to subvert and disrupt the elections,” Clegg said.

“I would urge everyone to think of AI as a sword, not just a shield, when it comes to bad content. The single biggest reason why we’re getting better and better and better in reducing the bad content that we don’t want on our walls, on Instagram and Facebook and for so-on, is for one reason: AI.”

Clegg Steps Down From Meta

On January 2nd, 2024, the former U.K. Prime Minister announced he was ending his seven-year tenure at Meta.

“I hope I have played some role in seeking to bridge the very different worlds of tech and politics – worlds that will continue to interact in unpredictable ways across the globe.”

In his farewell post, Meta’s former President of Global Affairs acknowledged “significant scrutiny and controversy” during Facebook’s rapid growth.

Clegg introduced his new replacement, stating that no one could “pick up from where I’ve left off with greater skill and integrity than my deputy, Joel Kaplan.”

“Joel is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time – ideally placed to shape the company’s strategy as societal and political expectations around technology continue to evolve.”

Who Is Joel Kaplan?

Joel Kaplan is a longtime executive with deep Republican ties and a former senior adviser to George W. Bush.

Kaplan’s appointment comes as Meta looks to strengthen its connections to the incoming Trump administration, signaling a shift in the company’s political alignment.

Meta’s latest appointment reflects a broader trend in the tech and finance industries. Companies like Meta have sought to build closer ties with the incoming Trump administration as they face mounting regulatory pressures.

Kevin Martin, who has worked on Meta’s policy team, will assume Kaplan’s former role as vice president of public policy.

Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has thanked Clegg for his contributions while signaling continued efforts to align with political developments under the new administration.

Meta’s Former Political Leaders

Nick Clegg’s transition from politics to tech is not unique; several political figures have made similar moves to Meta.

Richard Allan, another notable Lib Dem, succeeded Clegg  as the MP for Sheffield Hallam and later joined Cisco Systems, followed by Facebook, contributing his insights as the director of policy in Europe.

Similarly, Lena Pietsch, Clegg’s former spin doctor, also transitioned to Meta , becoming the company’s vice president of public affairs. Phil Reilly, another of Clegg’s communicators, also brought his expertise in speechwriting to Meta.

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Samantha Dunn

Samantha started as a traditional writer and journalist before falling down the Web3 rabbit hole. She now explores the ways in which emerging technology is impacting economies, industries, and the individual.
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