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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* Email: radical@bbc.co.uk
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.
