Overview

• Nick Clegg, Meta's head of global affairs, criticized TikTok for operating in the US while Chinese companies like Facebook cannot operate in China.
• Clegg claimed there is an "uneven playing field" between the two companies because TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance but operates freely in Western democracies.
• Clegg pointed out that while social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are banned in China, TikTok is allowed to flourish in the US, indicating a double standard.
• TikTok executives have tried to portray the app as independent from ByteDance and Chinese government interference, but critics argue it still raises national security concerns.
• Clegg called on Western nations to ensure that new technologies adhere to democratic values and principles.