Former Meta Executive Argues Tech Should Stay Out of Politics

In a recent interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” former Meta Platforms global affairs chief Sir Nick Clegg cautioned against the increasing entanglement of technology and politics, advocating for a more “respectful distance” between the two sectors. Clegg’s comments come amidst heightened scrutiny of tech companies’ influence on public discourse and government policy, particularly as governments worldwide grapple with the implications of data sovereignty and algorithmic control.

“I generally don’t think that politics and tech innovation mixes very well,” Clegg stated, highlighting the potential for conflicts of interest and the erosion of public trust. He emphasized that while technological advancements offer immense opportunities, the involvement of political agendas could stifle innovation and compromise the neutrality of digital platforms.

The recent U.S. government’s approach to TikTok exemplifies the complex interplay between these two forces. The agreement, designed to address national security concerns, involves significant technological and political considerations. Clegg pointed to two crucial aspects to watch: the security of American user data and the ownership of TikTok’s algorithms.

On data security, Clegg questioned whether U.S. data would be adequately protected from potential surveillance. This concern underscores the broader issue of data localization and the potential for governments to mandate the storage of user data within their national borders. While ostensibly aimed at enhancing data security, such measures can also create barriers to international data flows and fragment the global internet.

“The moment countries start doing that, the dominoes will start to fall,” Clegg warned, referring to the increasing trend of “hard data localization” exemplified by India’s legislative efforts. He argued that this trend could undermine the open data flows that underpin the internet and stifle innovation by limiting access to global datasets.

The structure of the TikTok agreement, which involves Oracle overseeing cloud services and security operations, raises further questions about algorithmic control and intellectual property. Sharing TikTok’s algorithm, which drives its content recommendation system, presents a significant technical and legal challenge. The algorithm’s complexity and its role in shaping user engagement make it a valuable asset, and its transfer could have broad implications for the competitive landscape of social media.

Despite the concerns surrounding data security and algorithmic control, Clegg acknowledged the potential risks of government overreach in regulating the internet. He cautioned against policies that could lead to the balkanization of the web, with countries creating their own isolated digital ecosystems.

Clegg emphasized that the relationship between the U.S. and China represents the most significant risk to the internet’s future. He noted the potential for escalating tensions to prompt other countries to adopt divergent policies, potentially fragmenting the global network. The increasing alignment between countries like India and China, specifically regarding data localization, creates further uncertainty.

“If India starts emulating China and starts trying to sort of cut off India, much like China has done from the rest of the internet. … I think that would be terrible for the kind of global open principles that the internet was based on,” Clegg concluded, underscoring the need for international cooperation to preserve the open and interconnected nature of the internet.