Google, Amazon spent millions lobbying while facing bipartisan scrutiny

The increased lobbying expenditures come amid a wider bipartisan reckoning on giant technology platforms. — Reuters

Technology giants, including Alphabet Inc’s Google and Amazon.com Inc, spent millions on lobbying in the first quarter of 2021 as they face heightened scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans over alleged anticompetitive practices.

Google spent US$2.7mil (RM11.09mil) on federal lobbying in the three months ending March 31, according to disclosures filed with Congress. That’s a 49% increase from the same period a year earlier, and comes as the company has been steadily increasing its Washington investments after a two-year decline. Global policy chief Karan Bhatia reorganised the Washington office when he took over in 2018.