Lobbying Expenditures By Tech Giants Broke Records Last Year

It is estimated that Amazon Inc., Apple Inc., and Microsoft Corp. spent more on lobbying last year than ever before to avoid heightened scrutiny of their business models and economic clout in the United States.

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Both Meta Platforms Inc. and Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., spent less than previous years, but they still made the top 10 list.

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According to Bloomberg News, the top tech companies spent nearly $70 million lobbying Congress in 2022, outpacing pharmaceuticals and oil and gas.

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Millions more were spent by companies in Washington on trade groups, nonprofits, and think tanks, although those numbers aren't disclosed.

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The heavy spending reflects the seriousness with which the companies took the threats from regulation and legislation. Antitrust legislation nearly passed by Congress could have cost them billions of dollars as a result of reining in their business practices. A flurry of lawsuits and investigations were launched against major tech companies by the Biden administration, with the Federal Trade Commission accusing them of antitrust violations.

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According to Apple, the company spent $9.36 million in 2022, up from $6.5 million in 2021. Compared to $19 million, Amazon spent nearly $20 million. During this time of intense competition, Microsoft spent just a little more than it did in 2013, when it was fighting both other tech giants and the FTC.

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As a result of a review of year-end filings with the Federal Elections Commission released on Tuesday, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google spent less on campaign contributions through their political action committees (PACs). A PAC is not established by Apple.

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However, some tech executives gave more to Republican lawmakers now overseeing the industry in Congress, particularly to GOP leaders. They have complained that the tech giants control online speech and have ties to China, and lambasted those companies.

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During the run-up to McCarthy's election as House Speaker, Apple's government affairs executive Tim Powderly donated $5,000 to him. A second gift of $2,900 went to Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees some issues related to technology.

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The Texas Republican State Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, also oversees the tech companies, received $1,000 from Meta's head of U.S. public policy Kevin Martin and Amazon's associate general counsel Michael Deal. A $1,000 gift was given to Louisiana House Majority Leader Steve Scalise by Google's public policy and government relations manager Andrew Ladner.