The social giant yet again increased its lobbying budget in Q2 2012 with the spending of $960,000. Facebook’s 16-page long lobbying report for the second quarter 2012 (PDF) via CNET – revealed the figure which is up almost 200 percent from what the company spent back in first quarter 2011. The following are the lobbying issues on which company spent:
- 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.
(Image Source: Google Play)
