Facebook breaks its lobbying record in Q2 2012

Facebook has once again significantly increased its budget for wooing politicians.

 The social network giant spent $960,000 on lobbying in the second quarter of 2012,

 the transition quarter during which the company went public. This is up exactly 200

 percent from the $320,000 the company spent in the first quarter of 2011, and up 

47.69 percent from the $650,000 it spent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

As you can see in the chart below, Facebook has been lobbying since 2009 but only 

cranked up the gears last year. In fact, 2011 was the first year Facebook spent

 more than $1 million for lobbying. To put the latest numbers into perspective,

 Facebook spent almost $1 million this past quarter alone, and in the first half

 of 2012 ($1.61 million) it has already blown past its total 2011 expenses 

($1.35 million):


Report ID Quarter Expenditure Report Date
300376569 Q2 2009 $48,137 04/20/2011 (amended)
300215009 Q3 2009 $121,624 10/20/2009
300240502 Q4 2009 $38,117 01/20/2010
300258489 Q1 2010 $41,390 04/15/2010
300289448 Q2 2010 $60,000 07/16/2010
300326308 Q3 2010 $120,000 10/20/2010
300351816 Q4 2010 $130,000 01/20/2011
300379977 Q1 2011 $230,000 04/20/2011
300405097 Q2 2011 $320,000 07/20/2011
300428540 Q3 2011 $440,000 10/20/2011
300452591 Q4 2011 $360,000 01/20/2012
300474463 Q1 2012 $650,000 04/20/2012
300498441 Q2 2012 $960,000 07/20/2012


Facebook's 16-page lobbying report for the second quarter of 2012 (PDF) lists 

he following specific lobbying issues:
International regulation of software companies; restrictions on Internet access by 

foreign governments; Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 3605); preserve and

 advance the multistakeholder governance model (H. Con. Res. 127); protecting and

 advancing online freedom of expression and privacy through "observer" status of the

 Global Network Initiative (GNI).
Federal policy on issues relevant to technology and Internet policy including privacy,

 protecting children and online safety; Implementation of Children's Online Privacy 

Protection Act; Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011 (S. 799); Personal

 Data Privacy and Security Act of 2011 (S. 1151); Do-Not-Track Online Act 

Location Privacy Protection Act of 2011 (S. 1223); Do-Not-Track Kids 

Act of 2011 (H.R. 1895); Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 1528); 

Video Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 2471); Administration's process on 

Do-Not-Track / multi-stakeholder process; protecting users from employers

 demanding access to personal accounts (S. 3074); Password Protection Act 

(H.R. 5684); Secure and Fortify Electronic Data Act (H.R. 2577); Social Networking 

On line Protection Act (H.R. 5050).
Education regarding Internet media information security policy and Internet privacy 

issues; federal privacy legislation; freedom of expression on the Internet; education 

regarding Facebook's ta g-suggest feature.
Discussions regarding patent reform legislation to encourage innovation and foster 

the American economy and competitiveness; discussions regarding legislation to

 curb on line piracy; Intellectual Property Attaché Act.
Education regarding use of social networks to reduce energy consumption.
Education regarding online advertising.
Discussions regarding reform of immigration system, including temporary high-tech 

worker visas and employment-based permanent residency; American Growth, 

Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act (AGREE Act; S. 1866); 

Startup Act 2.0 (S. 3217); Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act 

(H.R. 3012 and S. 1857).Discussions regarding cyber security and data security; 

Data Security and Breach 

Notification Act of 2011 (S. 1207); Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2011

 (S. 1151); Data Breach Notification Act of 2011 (S. 1408); SAFE Data Act

 (H.R. 2577); Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA) of 2011 (H.R. 1841);

 Data Accountability and Trust Act (H.R. 1707); Cyber Intelligence Sharing and 

Protection Act of 2011 (H .R. 3523); SECURE IT (S. 2151); Cyber Security Act

 of 2012 (S. 2105); SECURE IT Act of 2012 (H.R. 4263).
Effect of corporate tax deduction proposals on the tech sector.
Market structure and IPO issues.


As all technology companies of Facebook's size, the social network will continue

 to friend Washington, D.C. as long as it has a list of items it wants help with. 

Working with the government is one of many ways Facebook is working to protect 

its interests, and in some cases, the interests of its users.In summary, Facebook

 lobbied lawmakers on advertising, cybersecurity, employment, patents, privacy, 

taxes, and IPO issues. There are many reasons why Facebook's lobbying is increasing:

 the improving U.S. economy, the upcoming 2012 presidential election, as well as 

the various Internet-related bills making their way through Congress.

by Emil Protalinski

  July 22, 2012 12:27 PM PDT