Discussion

• @wolfsongz @wolfsongz on bluesky

  #Meta is squarely right-wing with this appointment and Dustin Carmack.  They've been a quiet mover on the right for a while now.  I deleted all of my Meta apps and accounts. #boycott #corporatocracy [embedded post]

• @uglygame Martin Calladine on bluesky

  Imagine firing Nick Clegg because you think you need someone even more willing to abandon their principles and curry favour with a right-wing government.  [embedded post]

• @dpjhodges @dpjhodges on x

  Nick Clegg's removal is another example of the way corporate America is scrabbling to ingratiate itself with Trump in advance of his inauguration. And further underlines how insane it was that these corporates were allowed to hold themselves up as social moral arbiters.

• r/ukpolitics r on reddit

  Why Mark Zuckerberg No Longer Needs Nick Clegg

• @carlivelocci.com Carli Velocci on bluesky

  Was just reading on this but it's interesting that Meta's policy guy “steps down” just as more AI slop hits its platforms and Trump getting into office.  He'll be replaced by the guy who ensured Breitbart and such got pushed hard on FB.  —  www.semafor.com/article/01/0...  [embed…

• @worklesshard Sam Jeffers on bluesky

  Seems a bit backward for Clegg to leave now.  Nothing will happen in the US for years, while EU DSA enforcement will gather pace.  —  www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

• @digiphile Alexander Howard on bluesky

  In other news, Nick Clegg is leaving Meta.  Joel Kaplan will be Meta's new global affairs officer.  His record & politics suggest there is little reason to expect Kaplan to hold the line should Trump engage in unconstitutional & authoritarian acts again on office.  [image]

• @michae.lv Michael Veale on bluesky

  Nick Clegg's departure from Meta almost like a changing of the guards from a European lobbying focus to a US one. www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

• @benansell Ben Ansell on bluesky

  One thing both the hiring of Clegg and now his replacement tells you is that large social media companies' main strategic intangible asset is government relations.  [embedded post]

• @jaynakrani Jay Nakrani on bluesky

  Companies align themselves with whoever is in power.  Morals be damned — preserve shareholder value gravy train at all cost, haha! [embedded post]

• @colborne Michael Colborne on bluesky

  just as Facebook is already becoming an increasingly useless platform, with plans for fake AI profiles which I'm sure we'll all really enjoy in between getting absolute garbage recommendations and even more opaque algorithmic nonsense  —  www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

• @marietjeschaake Marietje Schaake on bluesky

  Well well, Facebook/Meta ready to take a MAGA turn.  Clegg out, Kaplan in ↘️https://www.semafor.com/ article/01/02/2025/meta-will-appoint- joel-kaplan-to-lead-global-policy-team- replacing-nick-clegg

• @chadbourn Mark Chadbourn on bluesky

  He also stopped Zuckerberg from closing down Facebook groups that were alleged to have circulated fake news, arguing that doing so would disproportionately target conservatives.  —  3/3

• @chadbourn Mark Chadbourn on bluesky

  Kaplan was also a big booster of RW sites Breitbart News and The Daily Caller in Meta and advocated for changes in Facebook's algorithm to promote the interests of right-wing publications.  2/3

• @jamesrball.com James Ball on bluesky

  Cleggxit at Meta before Trump term two... www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

• @mgsiegler.com M.G. Siegler on bluesky

  Why not replace him with Don Jr.?  “Go Direct”, as it were.  [embedded post]

• @zippola71 @zippola71 on bluesky

  Which includes Threads ...  [embedded post]

• @digiphile Alexander B. Howard on threads

  As VP, Kaplan obstructed moderation of conservative content, stymied rollout of products & features that would reduce polarization or curb the spread of lies, intervened on behalf of popular conservative influencers & politicians who violated Facebook rules, & counseled @zuck to …

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on threads

  I am not sure if he is trolling Kaplan here or not: “He is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time!”  I say yes, because he is British after all.  In all seriousness, this is an obvious and also depressing move by Zuckerberg.

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on threads

  It's actually it's the exact “right” time — @nickclegg is not nearly Trumpy enough for Meta anymore like Kavanaugh pal Joel Kaplan is.  Btw that's a compliment from me, Nick.  See you on the other side!

• @mac_ryan_ Ryan Mac on threads

  I guess someone got tired of vetting CEO posts about hydrofoils  —  RE: https://www.threads.net/...

• @nickclegg Nick Clegg on x

  As a new year begins, I have come to the view that this is the right time for me to move on from my role as President, Global Affairs at Meta.  It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime!  I am proud of the work I have been able to do leading and supporting teams across the com…

• @nickclegg Nick Clegg on x

  And I am simply thrilled that my deputy, Joel Kaplan, will now become Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer. Over the years that we have worked together, we have become good friends as well as close colleagues - I have laughed with, as well as learned from, Joel in equal measure.

• @libsoftiktok @libsoftiktok on x

  Wow! Meta to replace Liberal head of Global Policy Nick Clegg with Republican Joel Kaplan. Joel reportedly has been one of the most forceful voices inside Meta fighting against censorship. This is huge. [image]

• @john_bailey John Bailey on x

  Congratulations to Joel Kaplan on his appointment as Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer! With decades of experience spanning his time at Meta, the White House, and OMB, Joel is uniquely qualified to lead on both domestic and international issues. His leadership comes at a

• @tomhfh Tom Harwood on x

  Nick Clegg leaving meta shows American big tech is giving up on the EU. Clegg was an inspired appointment by Zuckerberg seven years ago as a classically liberal Brit who could act as a bridge between California and Brussels tempering the spiteful European regulatory instinct.

• @charliekirk11 Charlie Kirk on x

  Very promising move here. Known Joel Kaplan for years. He's as smart as they come and will be advocate for more free speech on the platform. Make no mistake, this is a great development at META. [image]

• @zamaan_qureshi Zamaan Qureshi on x

  Loyalty to Zuckerberg or close ties to Trump world? Either way, Kaplan taking over from Clegg is a shakeup at Meta and nice timing just as Big Tech gets cozy with the White House. Zuckerberg firming up his trusted lieutenants to avert regulation seems like the move. @nickclegg👋🏾 …

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  It's hard for people to understand how big Facebook is. It is many times bigger than twitter, a platform that doesn't really matter but we all whine about constantly.

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  Joel Kaplan is the guy who sort of indirectly ruined by journalism career by getting so annoyed with Mother Jones' virality that he pushed for algorithmic changes to stomp it out, which I only learned about from the presentation getting leaked in 2020.  I was quite mad at the tim…

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  I've known lots of people at FB and invariably they have all been decent nice folks who want to do their jobs well, but it's hard to know exactly what do to when you're a platform that big and in such a unique situation.

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  I'm pretty sure I'm on the short list of people who very directly and explicitly have been personally harmed by intentional FB policy changes, but also is an inveterate defender of the company, which I think doesn't deserve anything close to the hate it gets.

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  I am yet to read any reporting that makes me believe Facebook has ever acted with intentional malicious. And the simple fact is lots of people constantly accuse them of that. But in reality I just think it's hard to run that platform and it's hard to get it right.

• @pkafka Peter Kafka on x

  There are words after the headline. You should definitely read them! But also the headline is the headline: “Mark Zuckerberg preps for Trump 2.0 by boosting an in-house Republican.”

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  also this news dropped literally as i was in the dentist chair getting an implant so it was maybe the worst “welcome back to work in 2025” day yet https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @zsk Zoe Kleinman on x

  This is a huge change at the top of the tech giant Meta and it's hard not to see it as political.  Sir Nick Clegg, a former liberal politician in the UK, is being replaced by his own deputy, the Republican Joel Kaplan.  Zuckerberg is manoeuvring fast ahead of Trump inauguration i…

• @peterjhasson Peter J. Hasson on x

  Kaplan is friends with Kavanaugh and sat behind him during his confirmation hearing. Facebook employees raged at him over it and tried to get him fired. He survived and will now be more powerful than ever.

• @shehabkhan @shehabkhan on x

  The political significance of this is huge. Clegg had major influence at Meta/Facebook and he's being replaced by Joel Kaplan, a Republican who is well regarded among the Trump administration.

• @carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x

  So Clegg is out. And Zuck goes all in on Trump. Top Facebook PR flak now is guy who helped Kavanaugh through his sexual assault hearing. Please don't ever forget Clegg's role in this. He's an enabling reputation launderer who will always carry the stink [video]

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  On Kaplan promotion, Facebook's securities lawsuits (SCOTUS heard/denied on Nov 6th) have heated up in the last few months (there is a related case scheduled for April trial in Delaware Chancery). These suits relate to allegations on handling of Cambridge Analytica scandal. 1/3 […

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  well done, andy stone. pls add the context of the day after US elections (nov 6th - SCOTUS rejected facebook's appeal in cover-up scandal) and depos of board members underway in delaware chancery. imho, loyalty to zuckerberg may be more important than political party on this.

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  (kaplan has been at Meta since 2011 when it was still Facebook)

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  makes sense. Kaplan a longtime republican operative, Deputy Chief of Staff under GWB, clerked for Scalia, tight with Ted Cruz Meta squaring off for four years of Trump and Kaplan is in with all of them

• @lizrhoffman Liz Hoffman on x

  Nick Clegg is leaving Meta, replaced by the company's most prominent Republican, Joel Kaplan. Feels very sign-of-the-times. Scoop on @semafor https://www.semafor.com/...

• @nickclegg Nick Clegg on x

  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.  I hope I have played some role in seeking to bridge the very different worlds of t…

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  Nick Clegg leaving meta as Joel Kaplan, longtime republican, takes over as global head of policy

• @semaforben Ben Smith on x

  News: Nick Clegg leaving Meta's top policy job, replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan https://www.semafor.com/...

• @tomcoates Tom Coates on x

  Oh sure, this seems fine. You have to feel for Nick Clegg though, right? Right? Right?! Anyone?

• @semaforben Ben Smith on x

  Big scoop on DC business and policy, and a big sign of the times @lizrhoffman @ReedAlbergotti @GinaChon https://www.semafor.com/...

• r/neoliberal r on reddit

  Meta will appoint Republican Joel Kaplan to lead global policy team, as Nick Clegg steps down |  Semafor

• r/ukpolitics r on reddit

  Nick Clegg has stepped down as President of Global Policy at Meta