Apple Increased Lobbying Spending in 2022, Exceeding That of Other Tech Companies

Apple increased its lobbying spending last year by 44% compared to 2021, according to public disclosures. This ramping up of spending indicates the company's commitment to influencing policy at the federal level.

Apple's lobbying spending grew more than any other tech company in the past year, but it still lags behind its peers. Apple spent nearly $9.4 million on lobbying in 2022, a record for the company, but just below Microsoft's $9.8 million and Google's $10.9 million.

Amazon and Facebook-owner Meta were the top two spenders in 2021, with Amazon spending $19.7 million and Meta spending $19.2 million. Amazon's spending was up 2% from 2020, while Meta's spending was down 4.6%.

The five tech giants spent a combined nearly $69 million lobbying the federal government last year, a 5% increase compared to the previous year. This increase in lobbying spending highlights the importance of the tech industry's influence on government policy.

In 2022, tech giants faced the prospect of bipartisan legislation that would be highly disruptive to their business models. Such measures included antitrust bills that would prohibit large platforms or online marketplaces from unfairly promoting their own products over others listed on their forums, or prevent app stores from forcing developers to use their in-app payment system, from which they often take a cut. These proposed changes would have a major impact on the way these companies operate, and could lead to significant changes in the tech industry as a whole.

The bills never got a vote on the floor of either chamber of Congress, which the sponsors have blamed in part on an aggressive tech influence campaign.

Apple's public filing shows that it lobbied on antitrust issues in the fourth quarter, as well as on issues including online privacy, taxes, semiconductor policy, content moderation, climate change, immigration and LGBTQ issues including the Respect for Marriage Act. Lobbying disclosures do not include details on what exactly companies advocated for in their discussions.

An Apple representative was not readily available to give a statement.

Other tech companies are also engaged on many of the same issues, though some may lobby on topics more specific to their businesses. For example, Amazon may engage on cloud computing and the INFORM Consumers Act, a bill that recently passed through Congress that seeks to deter counterfeit goods from being sold online.

Semiconductor companies saw significant increases in lobbying spending last year as the government considered the CHIPS and Science Act. This legislation provides incentives to help grow U.S. computer chip production, and it was ultimately successful.

Intel and Micron, both of which have pledged to invest in new chip manufacturing facilities in the United States, have seen significant increases in their lobbying expenditures in recent years. Intel's lobbying spend grew by more than 72% in 2020, totaling more than $7 million. Micron's lobbying spend grew by nearly 118% over the same period, totaling more than $4.2 million.

Crypto and fintech companies saw a significant increase in lobbying spending in 2022, a year marked by crypto scandal. Coinbase resumed lobbying efforts last year after a long hiatus, according to a public database. It quickly grew its operations, spending $3.4 million in 2022. The Blockchain Association, which represents a variety of companies in the space and has only lobbied for a few years, grew its spending 111% compared to 2021.

TikTok owner ByteDance saw only modest growth in spending this year, up about 4% from the year prior at $4.9 million. The company has come under scrutiny from the government, with Congress successfully passing a ban of the app on government devices. ByteDance is seeking to reach a resolution with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to continue operations while mitigating the risk of its connections to a Chinese owner, which has raised alarms for intelligence officials and policymakers. After having its biggest lobbying quarter in Q2, topping $2 million, it dropped its spending below $1 million for the next two quarters.

Lobbying is a big business in the United States. Here's a look at how the industry works and how it influences the American political process.