Google tops EU lobbying spending at 5.75 million euros, followed by Facebook, Microsoft

Google, Facebook Inc, and Microsoft Corp were found to be the three biggest lobbying spenders in Europe to counter laws aimed at curbing the power of tech giants.

Google topped spending at 5.75 million euros, followed by Facebook at 5.5 million euros, Microsoft at 5.25 million, Apple at 3.5 million, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd at 3 million, and Amazon.com Inc with 2.75 million, the study said.

The study revealed that 612 companies, groups, and associations spend over $114.4 million annually lobbying on EU digital economy policies.

The study by campaign groups Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl warned that EU policymakers should further beef up the draft laws and lobbying rules against the rising lobby firepower of big tech and the digital industry.

The study noted that the industry's lobbyists were involved in three-quarters of the 270 meetings of European Commission officials on the two draft laws.

It also highlighted the role of trade and business associations, think tanks, and political parties in promoting the tech industry's narrative.

The tech sector surpassed industries such as pharma, fossil fuels, finance, and chemicals sectors in lobby spending.

The study said that the platforms can use this firepower to ensure their voices are heard in the debate on constructing new rules for digital platforms."

The lobbying focuses on two pieces of legislation: the Digital Markets' Act, which lists do's and don'ts for tech giants, and the Digital Services Act, which requires companies to boost policing content on their platforms.