Google tops spending on lobbyists with $ 21.7 million in 2018

science and technology

Google has spent a record $ 21.7 million in funding for US lobbyist lobby groups, which has made it the top of the list of companies spending on lobbyists to influence lawmakers, a recent report showed.

According to the report, the pressure on spending by technology companies has been rising steadily in recent years, and has risen over the past decade, according to the report in CNBC, The report cited data from the Center Center for Responsive Politics, A non-partisan, non-profit research group that tracks the effects of money and pressure on elections and public policy.

According to the site toi India, the largest technology companies in the United States are facing increased scrutiny by regulators related to privacy practices and market monitoring, they spend much more money to try to influence lawmakers.

"No company in America pumps more money into these efforts than Google," the report said. "Last year, the company spent $ 21.7 million on lobbyists, Center for Responsive Politics, And in 2009, Google spent only $ 4 million on pressure, a figure that increased fivefold by last year.

For two consecutive years, Google was the biggest spending company, outperforming traditional competitors such as Boeing AT & TAmazon and Facebook also reached record levels of pressure in 2018, the report said.

For years, as the market cap has risen and consumer influence, the largest US technology companies have prepared for a day when their business practices will be more thoroughly scrutinized. Reports last week showed that the Department of Justice is preparing antitrust investigations with Google and empowered Apple as part of A broader review of the technology industry, and the Federal Trade CommissionFTC) Supervision of Amazon and Facebook.

Google began spending more on lobbyists in 2011 and 2012, where it faced challenges FTC, And in 2012, Google paid more than $ 22.5 million fines to settle fees FTC In the following year, she agreed to change some of her business practices after fears that the company was stifling competition. Amazon, which spent $ 14.4 million on last year's pressure and Facebook, which allocated $ 12.6 million, is also among the top 20 corporate spending America.