Facebook Increases Lobbying to Friend Congress
Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook
reported it increased its lobbying expenditures by $1 million during the first quarter of 2013. Facebook spent $2,450,000 lobbying from January through March, as compared to $1,400,000 spent during the last quarter of 2012. Facebook’s lobbyists concentrated on topics of the computer industry, media/publishing, advertising, immigration, foreign relations, homeland security and taxation.
Specific lobbying issues included international regulation of the Internet; restrictions on Internet access by foreign governments; protecting and advancing online freedom of expression; privacy; security; protecting children; online safety; information security; Internet privacy; online advertising; reform of immigration system; high-tech worker visas; employment-based permanent residency; cybersecurity; data security; and cyber intelligence sharing.
In other filings, Peck Madigan Jones reported being paid $30,000 in the first quarter for March lobbying for Zuckerberg’s FWD.us. Fierce Isakowitz & Blalock reported they received $30,000 in the first quarter for March lobbying for FWD.us.