Google Invests $14 Million Of Combined $61 Million Tech Firms Spent To Sway Legislators In 2013

When it comes to influencing Washington, Google was at the top of the list of tech companies that spent a combined $61.15 million on lobbying efforts last year. According to a report from Consumer Watchdog, Google invested $14.06 million of the $61.15 million invested by ten tech firms, including Microsoft, IBM, Facebook and Oracle. Consumer […]

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google-tv-moneyWhen it comes to influencing Washington, Google was at the top of the list of tech companies that spent a combined $61.15 million on lobbying efforts last year.

According to a report from Consumer Watchdog, Google invested $14.06 million of the $61.15 million invested by ten tech firms, including Microsoft, IBM, Facebook and Oracle.

Consumer Watchdog reports last year’s total was a 15.9 percent increase over the $52.78 million spent in 2012 on lobbying efforts by tech firms.

“Policy making in Washington is all about how much money you can throw around,” said Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director John Simpson, “These tech guys are increasingly willing to spend whatever it takes to buy what they want.”

Following Google, Microsoft increased its spend by 29.7 percent to $10.9 million in 2013. IBM was the third biggest spender, investing $7.06 million last year.

Facebook invested $6.43 million, a 61 percent increase over the social media network’s $3.99 million spent in 2012. Facebook’s 61 percent increase represented the largest growth in lobbying funds of the ten tech firms.

Top Ten Lobbying Investments By Tech Firms in 2013

Tech firms lobbying spends


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Amy Gesenhues
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Amy Gesenhues was a senior editor for Third Door Media, covering the latest news and updates for Marketing Land, Search Engine Land and MarTech Today. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs, SoftwareCEO, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy's articles.