Tag: Clegg

  • Nick Clegg, former UK deputy prime minister, leaves Meta | Meta

    Nick Clegg, former UK deputy prime minister, leaves Meta | Meta


    Nick Clegg, Britain’s former deputy prime minister and Meta’s current president of global affairs, is leaving the company after six years.

    “It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime!” Clegg said in a post on Facebook. “I am proud of the work I have been able to do leading and supporting teams across the company to ensure innovation can go hand in hand with increased transparency and accountability, and with new forms of governance.”

    Clegg joined the Facebook parent company in 2018 as the social media platform’s vice‑president for global affairs and communications. At the time the company faced intense scrutiny over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal and its role in the 2016 US presidential election. He was promoted to the chief policy role in 2022 after he helped to establish the Facebook Oversight Board – an independent board that makes decisions on the social network’s moderation policies.

    “My time at the company coincided with a significant resetting of the relationship between ‘big tech’ and the societal pressures manifested in new laws, institutions and norms affecting the sector,” Clegg wrote. “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.”

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    Clegg will be replaced by his deputy, Joel Kaplan, who, Clegg wrote, “is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time”.



    Today, former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has announced his departure from Meta, the parent company of social media giant Facebook. Clegg joined Meta in 2018 as its head of global affairs and communications, after serving as deputy prime minister of the UK from 2010 to 2015.

    During his time at Meta, Clegg played a key role in shaping the company’s public policy and communications strategies, particularly in the face of increasing scrutiny and criticism over its handling of user data and its impact on society. Clegg was known for his diplomatic approach and his efforts to engage with governments and regulators around the world.

    In a statement, Clegg expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work at Meta and thanked his colleagues for their support. He did not provide a specific reason for his departure, but stated that he is looking forward to new challenges and opportunities.

    Clegg’s departure comes at a critical time for Meta, as the company continues to face regulatory challenges and public backlash over its practices. It remains to be seen who will succeed Clegg in his role at Meta, and what impact his departure will have on the company’s future direction.

    Tags:

    Nick Clegg, UK, deputy prime minister, Meta, Meta news, former politician, UK politics, social media, technology, government, Facebook, Meta company, resignation

    #Nick #Clegg #deputy #prime #minister #leaves #Meta #Meta

  • Meta will appoint Joel Kaplan to lead global policy team, replacing Nick Clegg

    Meta will appoint Joel Kaplan to lead global policy team, replacing Nick Clegg


    Meta is revamping its global policy team, with President Nick Clegg stepping down and being replaced by Joel Kaplan, his deputy and the company’s most prominent Republican, people familiar with the matter said.

    Kaplan, who was White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, has been one of the most forceful voices inside Meta against restrictions on political speech, arguing internally that such policies would disproportionately mute conservative voices. Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister and ex-leader of the country’s Liberal Democrats, joined Meta in 2018 to lead its policy and lobbying efforts and was named president in 2022.

    The shift, three weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration, comes as US companies are embracing the president-elect, courting his inner circle, and backing away from progressive stances many had embraced in recent years. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — whom Trump previously threatened to jail — dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November and congratulated the president-elect on his win, one of many big tech executives to do so.

    Meta’s political operation is now well placed for a Republican-dominated Washington: Its just-elevated vice president of global public policy, Kevin Martin, was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission by President George W. Bush, and its general counsel, Jennifer Newstead, was the top legal adviser to the Trump State Department from 2017 until joining Meta in 2019.

    “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for Meta and the world these past seven years,” Zuckerberg said of Clegg in a statement. “I’ve learned so much working with you and our whole team is better for having this opportunity. You’ve made an important impact advancing Meta’s voice and values around the world, as well as our vision for AI and the metaverse. You’ve also built a strong team to carry this work forward. I’m excited for Joel to step into this role next given his deep experience and insight leading our policy work for many years.”

    — Ben Smith contributed to this report



    Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently announced that Joel Kaplan will be taking over as the head of its global policy team, replacing former deputy prime minister of the UK, Nick Clegg.

    Kaplan, who has been with Meta for over a decade, previously served as the company’s vice president of global public policy. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the company’s policy efforts in key areas such as content moderation, privacy, and data protection.

    This move comes as Meta faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of misinformation and harmful content on its platforms. Kaplan’s deep understanding of the company’s policies and his experience navigating regulatory challenges will be crucial in helping Meta address these issues and rebuild trust with users and regulators.

    We look forward to seeing how Kaplan’s leadership will shape Meta’s global policy team and its approach to addressing the complex challenges facing the company in the coming months.

    Tags:

    Meta, Joel Kaplan, global policy team, Nick Clegg, leadership change, social media, Facebook, meta platforms, tech news, corporate updates, executive appointments, global strategy, policy development

    #Meta #appoint #Joel #Kaplan #lead #global #policy #team #replacing #Nick #Clegg

  • Meta global affairs chief Nick Clegg to be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan

    Meta global affairs chief Nick Clegg to be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan


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    Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs at Meta, is leaving the social media platform and will be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican known for overseeing the company’s relationships with conservatives. 

    In a post on Meta’s Facebook on Thursday, Clegg, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats and deputy prime minister in the UK, said he was departing the company after seven years. He added that he would spend “a few months handing over the reins” and representing Facebook at international gatherings before moving on to “new adventures”. 

    Kaplan previously served as deputy chief of staff in the White House during the George W Bush administration, and is known for handling the company’s relations with Republicans.

    In the past, Facebook has dismissed claims that certain figures including Kaplan wielded political influence on its decision-making processes and treatment of politicians.

    The shake-up comes just weeks before Donald Trump — who has repeatedly accused Meta and other platforms of censorship and silencing conservative speech — is set to return to the White House.

    Some Big Tech executives who previously had cool relations with the Republican leader have since taken steps to court the president-elect. Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has dined with Trump at his Florida estate in Mar-a-Lago since the US election and congratulated him on his victory. Semafor first reported on the changes.



    In a surprising turn of events, Meta’s global affairs chief, Nick Clegg, is set to be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan. This change comes amidst growing scrutiny over Meta’s handling of misinformation and its impact on global politics.

    Kaplan, who previously served as the vice president of global public policy at Facebook, is known for his conservative views and close ties to the Republican party. His appointment has raised concerns among critics who fear that Meta’s policies may become more aligned with right-wing agendas.

    As Meta continues to navigate the complex landscape of global affairs, the decision to replace Clegg with Kaplan signals a shift in the company’s approach to political engagement. It remains to be seen how this change will impact Meta’s relationships with governments around the world and its efforts to combat misinformation on its platforms.

    Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    Meta global affairs, Nick Clegg, Republican, Joel Kaplan, leadership change, social media, technology, politics, news, Meta leadership, global affairs chief

    #Meta #global #affairs #chief #Nick #Clegg #replaced #Republican #Joel #Kaplan

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