How to Save the Internet: The Threat to Global Connection in the Age of AI and Political Conflict

by Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg, formerly one of Meta’s most senior executives, presents a blueprint for reforming Big Tech while preserving the essential openness of the internet

‘Warns of the dangers posed to a free and open global internet by an age of autocrats and a titanic power struggle over AI’ Guardian

As democracies seek to curb the power of Big Tech, as authoritarian regimes like China and Russia isolate their populations from the internet, and as the AI race supercharges divisions between competing nations, the most powerful tool for bringing us together risks being dismantled.

Taking us behind the scenes at Meta, and drawing on his unique experience on the world stage of both tech and politics, Nick Clegg sets out where Big Tech has gone wrong and the radical reforms that are needed if global platforms are to ensure their long-term future.

But he also shows that many of the charges against them are overstated or simply untrue, and presents a blueprint for the international cooperation that is needed if we are to preserve what makes them so vital to our their potential to empower and improve billions of lives.

Radical, reasonable, deeply felt and disarmingly honest, How To Save the Internet reminds us how much we stand to lose on our current path – and how much we might yet gain from a global, open internet.

‘Entertaining . . . lucid, detailed . . . there is much to agree with’ Spectator

‘Studded throughout [with] good analyses of the political situation around technology’ Observer

'A gripping and timely book. Nick Clegg writes with clarity, authority and urgency' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

‘A wake-up call we cannot afford to ignore’ Tony Blair

'A vital read' Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Artificial Intelligence

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2025

About the author

Nick Clegg is the former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was also Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2007-2015, Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam 2005-2017 and Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands 1999-2004.

Reviews

[Sarah K · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf. this guy definitely would have let zuck win at catan.

[Radhika Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talks about timely issues, but the author’s bias toward Meta outshines every opinion and recommendation put forth by him. Meta’s documented involvement in spreading hatred and disinformation is touched upon. But the space given to it is overshadowed by the multitude of positives that are sprinkled (poured?) throughout the book.

Apart from this, the author does raise interesting questions about how increasing fragmentation of the internet due to deglobalisation, specifically in the face of growing AI tech, is a real concern. As long as you divorce the author’s bias from the content, it can turn out to be a thought-provoking read.

[Oliver Rimington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleggs done a good job. Ok he was head of global affairs at meta, take it with a pinch of salt. Good rebuttal to Haidt. Not that convincing tho.

Freedom of data, it really is that important. You know what… governments imposing national internet “borders” isn’t on. A formerly global, open system, cannot become closed off per nation

Understandably, the tech bros really don’t want this level of politicisation. Why would they?, the level of scrutiny is unbearable for yutes like Zuck.

More Transparency, devolving decision making power to independent bodies, giving users more control over their data, more trust between policymakers and big tech for more balanced regulation.
That’ll fix it all…

[Tala · Rating 1 out of 5]

"There have been serious mistakes, not least during the genocidal campaign by the military in Myanmar against the Rohingya, which peaked in 2017. Hate speech and incitement to violence were spreading on its services, but Facebook didn't have enough Burmese-speaking content moderators"

If I recall correctly, there was one. One Burmese-speaking content moderator for over 1 million users. "Didn't have enough" doesn't cover it and overlooks the piss poor attitude of Meta in investing in such things as the safety of its users.

The whole book is incredibly biased towards Meta and the use of AI. There’s perhaps one or two sentences on the effect huge data centres have on the environment, but endless paragraphs on the supposed benefits of AI being used everywhere. Let's use AI in every classroom, every home, every job, every possible moment.

And don't worry if your job is replaced by AI. AI will teach you the skills you need for a new job. 🙄

[Imaduddin Ahmed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Doesn't engage honestly with criticisms of the tech sector. Creates convenient but misrepresentative strawmen arguments. Totally misses the point that Zuboff makes about how Meta which listen to conversations and then pop up with ads or suggestions to shape our behaviours and purchases. Quick and uninformative account of the significance of Lina Khan's approach to antitrust and gives short shrift to her efforts by judging her on her losses in unsympathetic courts. Intellectually dishonest piece of work that feels like we've paid someone with significant shareholding in Meta for the privilege of lobbying us.

[Qasim Haider · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable drivel about how whatever values the US and global west espouse are the best, and China and Russia are boogeymen. According to Nick Clegg, there's nothing wrong with social media nor AI systems and every form of criticism he addresses from researchers like Jonathan Haidt for example gets the classic "cherry picking" dismissal. The internet is completely fine and only requires some slight tuning at best. The fundamental concerns people have about the exploitative nature of apps and the psychological dependence created by social media alongside the divisiveness and death of nuance caused by the same tools is all but a misunderstanding and can be fixed if we look into the heart of western values ofcourse. Even though Nick left meta, his mind is still there. This has to be one of the most lukewarm and pointless books ive ever read.

[Neeve Fletcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can imagine it took Nick Clegg a long time writing this book as it seems one of his hands was occupied giving Mark Zuckerberg a handjob the entire time.

[Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this book has some unique perspectives on this topic, having worked in both the highest level of politics and tech - although the clear bias towards Meta is very obvious, particularly towards the end

[Duncan Stannett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of interesting but not that deep.

[Jason Hindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick has an interesting take on the future (and status quo) of the Internet as someone who has worked in politics and as an executive at Meta. I found his perspective unique as it runs counter to people I look up to, like Tristan Harris for example.

[mk.miles_ · Rating 1 out of 5]

'You don't have to aspire to be the next Taylor Swift to welcome the idea of having a creative assistant in your pocket which can tailor bedtime stories to your children'

I think I'll pass, Nick.

This was the opener at Ilkley Literature Festival last year. Credit to Nick here. He's a man switched on to geopolitics and a valid lamenter of Brexit. It was a good talk.

But it's far from a great book - about as wishy washy as they come, puts forward arguments with cherry picked evidence yet is remarkably self-aware of this fact.

Makes the wild claim that social media sites are more reliant on you returning to the site rather than the length of your stay, which is obvious baloney when it comes to TikTok's doomscroll psychology or X's walled garden approach.

Occasionally points out some interesting contradictions. Nick claims that Sam Altman is an AI doomer to try and handicap and hammer down regulation on allegedly dangerous open source models. Although that point is taken from Ben Thompson and is barely meditated on at all.

So basically, a few interesting ideas that he doesn't really talk about, and then spurious, unbelievable claims the rest of the way.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is Clegg a bumbling techno-optimist, or still on Meta’s payroll?

Clegg spends the first half of the book defending social media - first downplaying its harms by citing a few dozen studies (which he admits are inconclusive). He then trivializes concerns about social media’s negative impact by comparing them to past “moral panics” over new technology, emphasizing how traditional media tends to overstate threats to its own dominance. Finally, he dismisses worries about political polarization caused by social media, arguing that today’s divisions are neither unique nor especially apocalyptic. According to Clegg, the any “techlash” is actually an American phenomenon driven by Trump’s rise in 2016. The problem isn’t social media, he says - it’s America’s own deep-seated issues.

The second half turns to “how to save the internet,” a meandering section filled with vague recommendations about regulating the web - just not too much. There are a few interesting ideas, like the potential for a “splinternet,” but not many genuinely novel arguments.

[Dan Wombat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This dude does not get it. So biased and tone deaf. Brushes legitimate concerns aside and talks about how great Meta is and how AI is totally safe because 'it took 40 years for the internet to really get off the ground so we have time to integrate AI effectively' (i.e. This is not a problem for his generation because they'll be dead in 40 years so who cares about the impacts?). Western exceptionalism. All about how great AI and social media are and Zuck is a great guy and the concerns about these technologies are overblown. It's was a struggle to get through this, but I wanted to finish it to provide an honest review. I listened to the audiobook, which ends with the Penguin books standard anti-AI copyright notice which was a perfectly ironic point to end on.

[Janne Elvelid · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've worked with Nick for a long time there wasn't a lot of new things and learnings in this book for me. However, since we share some values it's easy to also like a lot of what he's saying.

[Teodora Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

From a EU citizen perspective I don't think the US is leading the AI technology. We shall see..

[David Lillico · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but as other have said it's biased, be grateful it's meta and not China, and Myanmar was not caused by Facebook algorithms

[Caitlin Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

BORING. Boring!

[Abhishek Sharma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meets most

[Lizzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I died of boredom reading this glorified CV