Lobbying expenses by Facebook, Amazon and Apple are set to hit record highs in 2019, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Why it matters: Tech companies are shelling out more money for lobbying as they face federal and state investigations and increased regulatory scrutiny.
By the numbers:
- Amazon doled out $12.4 million so far in 2019, making it the top spender among Big Tech companies.
- Facebook's spending jumped to $12.3 million so far in 2019 — an almost 25% jump from the same period in 2018.
- Apple spent $5.5 million over the first nine months of the year — an 8% boost from last year.
- Of note: Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., posted a 41% decline in lobbying expenses after it overhauled its government affairs operation. Google still spent $9.8 million on lobbying so far this year.
How it works: The companies have mainly used the money to present a positive message to Washington.
- Google, for example, has posted signs touting its privacy protections on turnstiles and walls in Ronald Reagan National Airport.
- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is becoming a regular presence in the capital. He made three visits to Washington over the past five weeks, including a speech at Georgetown University and a visit to the White House.
The big picture: The three companies are the subjects of broad investigations, notes Axios' Sara Fischer.
- Institutions investigating Facebook: House Judiciary Committee, House Financial Services Committee, the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department and state attorneys general.
- Institutions investigating Amazon: FTC and House Judiciary Committee.
- Institutions investigating Apple: House Judiciary Committee.
Go deeper: Explore Amazon's wide Washington reach
