Google Spent $21M On Lobbying In 2018

Google is spending more than any other U.S. tech company on lobbying as the tech sector faces increased scrutiny and the potential for more regulation.

According to a report in CNBC citing the Center for Responsive Politics, Google spent $21.17 million on lobbying in 2018 and for two years in a row has been the leading corporate spender among the tech companies.  It even outranks Boeing and AT&T in terms of spending. The report noted Amazon and Facebook also set records in terms of spending on lobbying last year.  In 2009 Google spent $4 million on lobbying, with that increasing fivefold in 2018. The increased in lobbying began in 2011 and 2012 amid challenges from the Federal Trade Commission.

According to the report, Amazon spent $14.4 million in lobbying in 2018, which was up 27 percent from two years ago, while Facebook spent $12.6 million in 2018. Microsoft also spent millions on lobbying last year, with its spend at $9.6 million — which is up from $8.7 million in 2017 and 2016. The report noted Apple spent $6.68 million in 2018, which is down a little bit from 2017 and much higher than in 2016. Spending by the tech companies is going to lobbying varying issues including competition and privacy.

The moves on the technology companies to increase spending on lobbying comes at a time when they are facing pushback from regulators around the globe. In Europe, the European Union has fined Google billions, and in the U.S. there’s a likelihood Google could face an antitrust inquiry.  Last week Google appealed the European Commission’s $1.7 billion fine, which was issued in March for anti-competitive behaviors in the online advertising market. CNBC, citing Google, reported the appeal was filed in the General Court of the European Union in Brussels. The Telegraph first reported the development. A European Commission spokesperson said the Commission plans to defend its ruling in court. The $1.7 billion fine, the third for Google levied by the European Union, centered on what the EU said was the firm’s abuse of its dominant position in the search engine market and efforts by Google to block companies that sell text ads based on rivals’ search results. This fine is smaller than the combined $7.67 billion the EU has fined Google in the past two instances. The latest fine is expected to be the last one against Google, ending a near 10-year investigation.