Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) increased its lobbying costs for the first quarter of the current fiscal 2013 to $2.45 million, an increase of 277 percent from its $650,000 lobbying expenditures recorded in the same quarter in 2012. During the fourth quarter last year, the social network giant spent $1.4 million for lobbying in Washington D.C.
The social network giant is supporting different issues from international regulations on the internet, to freedom of expression, privacy and security policies, education of online advertising, cyber security, data security, and policies on tax and stock options.
Most recently, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined a group of companies in Silicon Valley that are fighting for immigration reform and co-founded the political advocacy group FWD.us to promote policies to maintain the competitiveness of American workers. The group’s primary objective is to encourage Congress to approve legislation for a comprehensive immigration reform. FWD.us will also focus on initiatives to promote education and scientific research.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Reduces Lobbying Expense
On the other hand, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) reduced its lobbying costs year-over-year in the first quarter of 2013 by 33 percent from $5.03 million in the same period of 2012 to 3.35 million. The search engine giant maintained its current lobbying expenses since the previous quarter. Many believed that Google’s lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. helped in obtaining the decision of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to close its antitrust investigation against the company.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) supports issues on online advertising, patent reform, intellectual property enforcement, privacy and data security issues, online freedom of expression, health information technology, privacy, cyber security, immigration reform, job creation, and many other issues.
Aside from Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), many other technology companies increased their budget to lobby for issues in Washington, according to Consumer Watchdog.org. Some of these companies include Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), which increased its lobbying expense by 41 percent from $1.79 million to $2.53 million and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), which spent $859,831 for lobbying, a 32 percent increase from its 2012 lobbying costs of $650,000.
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) increased its lobbying expenditures by 44 percent from $500,000 in 2012 to $720,000 while Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ:ORCL) increased it lobbying costs by 25 percent from $1.1 million last year to $1.37 million.
The Internet Association represents the interest and issues supported by technology companies by lobbying in Washington D.C.
