Digital Dominance: How to Limit the Power of Big Tech (Sir Nick Clegg)

How should we balance innovation, power and accountability in the
digital age? This week, Amol speaks to Sir Nick Clegg — former UK
deputy prime minister and former president of global affairs at
Meta — about the power and responsibility of big tech companies.
Sir Nick argues that breaking them up won’t solve the problem of
their digital dominance, calling instead for greater regulation
and user control.


He discusses how technology shapes young people’s lives, warning
against moral panic whilst calling for stronger age-appropriate
safeguards and phone-free schools. And with rare candour, Sir
Nick offers an insider’s perspective on how Silicon Valley really
works — and why governments, not tech CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg,
must ultimately set the rules.


He also talks about politics and philosophy, arguing that true
liberalism — rooted in reason, openness, and the belief in
evidence over emotion — remains vital in an increasingly
polarised world.


(00:03:20) Concerns about the impact of AI


(00:07:00) The power paradox and network effects


(00:06:11) Children and smartphones


(00:22:17) Social media and political polarisation


(00:34:00) What’s Mark Zuckerberg really like?


(00:37:56) Why tech bosses are not moral leaders


(00:41:36) Why he left Meta


(00:44:10) The future of technology and power


(00:49:26) The race for AI ‘supremacy’ between the US and China


(00:52:00) Preparing for this new digital world


(00:53:11) Why has politics changed so much since he was deputy
prime minister?


(00:57:55) Is liberalism weak?


(01:01:20) What’s next for Sir Nick Clegg?


(01:05:16) Amol’s reflections


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Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday
and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan
Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before
that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The
Independent.


Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis
Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel
Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall and Ben
Andrews. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is
Owenna Griffiths.