Google started lobbying the federal government in 2003 and reported spending $80,000 on its efforts. In 2009, the company reported spending more than $4 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The company reported lobbying on issues such as online advertising, intellectual property and patent reforms, as well as consumer privacy in 2009, according to lobbying disclosure reports filed with the Senate Office of Public Records. It also reported employing former federal employees to advance its interests.
"We established a Washington presence because we felt like it was important to give our users a voice in Washington," Google spokeswoman Mistique Cano told Capital Eye. "Technology can be complicated. We absolutely believe taking the time to help people understand our business is a worthy investment. Technology is only going to become a bigger part of our lives and the economy."
Search through the company's filings online using the Senate Office of Public Records Lobbying Disclosure Database. Select the option to search by "client" and enter Google into the search box so that you get reports filed by Google as well as any lobbying firms they contracted with.
The report by the Center for Responsive Politics also indicated that Palo Alto-based Facebook reported lobbying the federal government for the first time in 2009, and spent $207,000.
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