Ex-friends to rivals: How Zuckerberg's China strategy completely changed
Metaʼs shift from friendly China relations to anti-TikTok campaign shows big techʼs changing landscape. Nick Clegg and Metaʼs lobbying efforts pushed for strict measures against Chinese-owned app
About 5 years ago Mark Zuckerberg stood at Georgetown Universityʼs hall making a game-changing speech: the once China-friendly tech boss turned against Beijingʼs internet control and TikTok
In the past Zuckerberg learned Mandarin went jogging in Tiananmen Square (and even asked for Chinese names for his kids)‚ but Metaʼs strategy changed big-time. The company started a well-planned anti-TikTok push using different methods: direct talks secret funding and smart PR
Former UK politician Sir Nick Clegg became Metaʼs key player in this fight. After joining the company in late-18‚ he helped shape the narrative about TikTokʼs Chinese ties; his European background and liberal views made him a good fit for talking to DC decision-makers
Meta worked through several proxy-groups to push its agenda:
- Targeted Victory group spread TikTok-related worries
- American Edge Project got $34-mil for tech competition research
- NetChoice kicked TikTok out of its membership
- Anti-terrorism groups blocked TikTok from joining
The push worked at first - Trump tried banning TikTok in his first term but things got messy. Now theres a new law that could force TikTokʼs sale by early-25‚ but Donald Trump changed his mind: he now says TikTok needs to stay as competition for Meta
Iʼm for TikTok because you need competition. If you dont have TikTok you have Facebook and Instagram - thats Zuckerberg
This whole story might backfire on Meta though - the newly-elected president doesnt like Zuckerberg and promises to “save TikTok“. The battle between these social-media giants isnt over yet
