Facebook Pumps Up Lobbying

Facebook is ramping up its government influence operation in Washington (DC) to catch up with more established rivals and in anticipation that its privacy practices will face heavy scrutiny for years to come.

Facebook's lobbying tab reached $650,000 in the first quarter, federal records show, putting it on a path to more than double the $1.35 million it spent last year. The company's political action committee also is sprinkling $2,500 checks among congressional leaders of both parties as well as the chairmen of committees connected to technology issues. Facebook’s spending falls short of the $5 million Google spent lobbying in the first quarter or Microsoft $1.8 million. Still, like 28-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook has shown maturity beyond its years in the nation's capital, building an operation that resembles much older companies.