Malaysia Shuts Down Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School

Billed as a hub for techno-optimists, the program acted as the initial stage of a seven-part strategy outlined in Srinivasan’s book, The Network State. Participants described the experience as a hybrid of a tech incubator and a self-improvement retreat, though feedback highlighted significant grievances, including poor living conditions and a notable lack of diversity.

Srinivasan, who renounced his American citizenship in 2023, dismissed the criticism following inquiries from The Wall Street Journal. On X, he characterized the reporting as a hit piece designed to portray him as an outlier rather than an innovator. Despite the forced shutdown in Malaysia due to unresolved licensing issues, the project is already pivoting. Srinivasan recently confirmed a new agreement to establish a campus in Kazakhstan, maintaining his commitment to building alternative governance models abroad.