Tech companies break records, spending more money than ever on lobbying the EU

Major US tech companies are spending more money than ever lobbying the EU to influence its digital rules, Politico reports. Artificial intelligence and rules such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) will be a particular focus.

A new analysis shows that 733 digital sector players together spend around €151 million a year on lobbying, compared to €113 million in 2023.

The biggest spenders are US companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Qualcomm and Google. The top 10 tech companies now spend more than the top players in the pharmaceutical, financial and automotive industries combined. Meta is now the biggest lobbyist in the EU with an annual budget of over €10 million.

Increased spending is also reflected in more lobbyists and more meetings with EU institutions. Critics argue that lobbying can weaken established rules, while companies themselves claim they want to provide expertise to lawmakers.

Further reading:

• Meta launches bipartisan super PAC to influence state AI laws amid rising regulatory pressure
• Apple may turn off key privacy tool in Europe
• Google backs EU’s AI code despite concerns over innovation risks