The Internet revolution today reached the top level of world leadership when Facebook pioneer Mark Zuckerberg met President Nicolas Sarkozy on the closing day of the first "e-G8" summit.

The 27-year-old American founder of the social networking site -- on which Sarkozy himself has a page -- visited the Elysee palace between the president's meetings with his cabinet and the visiting Japanese prime minister.

The encounter came on the sidelines of the "e-G8", which on its second day was fast becoming a face-off between the powers that be, big business and web rebels.

Zuckerberg left the Elysee dressed in a suit and appeared later in jeans and a T-shirt on stage at the e-G8, where he was diplomatic about the meeting with Sarkozy, a day after the president ruffled feathers with his line on Internet regulation.

"It was fun," the young New Yorker told the gathering.

"I understand where he's coming from. I appreciate the chance to be here and be part of the dialogue."

Sarkozy kicked off the summit of top online and media barons yesterday, hailing their "Internet revolution" but warning them that some degree of government regulation was inevitable to avoid "democratic chaos."

Top media bosses in their closing session today debated a draft proposal for the G8 world leaders at their summit this week that governments should provide Internet access to citizens but not regulate online content.