Sir Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, has launched a stark warning about the dangers of unregulated social media and artificial intelligence, branding them a "poisoned chalice". His comments come just a year after he departed from a highly lucrative executive role at Facebook's parent company, Meta.
From Silicon Valley Insider to Vocal Critic
The ex-Liberal Democrat leader, who served as Meta's president of global affairs, is reported to have made close to £15 million from the sale of Meta shares during his tenure. His latest intervention marks a significant shift in tone from his previous defences of the tech industry.
Speaking to the cross-party Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, Sir Nick argued that regulators and politicians must be "way tougher" on large firms. He demanded greater transparency around the algorithmic systems that power platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which he said "otherwise chop and change" without scrutiny.
The 'TikTokification' and Mental Health Toll
Sir Nick reserved particular criticism for what he termed the "TikTokification" of apps, where users are "bombarded by short-form video recommendations" sourced from the "deepest, darkest recesses of the internet". He contrasted this with the human-centric social media he initially joined, stating the experience is now becoming "increasingly automated".
He pointed to clear academic evidence showing that this passive consumption of algorithmically-selected content is "much worse, particularly for younger people's mental health" compared to interacting with other people online. The rise of generative AI, he warned, is making this problem profoundly worse by flooding feeds with synthetic content.
A 'Difficult Trade-Off' of Power
While acknowledging the democratising power of social media for individuals and small businesses, Sir Nick highlighted a major downside. This empowerment comes with a "dramatic, excessive centralisation and aggregation of power in the hands of the small number of men" who run these global behemoths in Silicon Valley and China.
He described this concentration of unelected power as a core problem, noting these executives have become "increasingly active" in spheres like American politics.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies Amid AI Abuse Row
Sir Nick's warnings arrive amid a fierce controversy over AI misuse. The row centres on Grok, an AI tool on X (formerly Twitter), being used to create sexually explicit and abusive content. X's move to limit Grok's image features to paying subscribers sparked further outrage, with ministers accusing owner Elon Musk of "monetising abuse".
In response, the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has launched an official investigation into X under the Online Safety Act. Government ministers have not ruled out banning the platform entirely once the probe concludes.
This context underscores the urgency of Sir Nick's call for action. His transformation from a Silicon Valley insider advocating against "needless regulatory complexity" for AI just over a year ago, to a proponent of stricter oversight, signals growing alarm about the unchecked power and societal impact of major tech platforms.
