Facebook's power play

Facebook’s business is built on fun and games and the childhood belief that sharing is caring, but there’s nothing cute about its lobbying operation: Its DC shop has been built for battle.

Founded in 2004, Facebook has put in place a sophisticated policy and political support network to wage war on potential privacy regulations — one of the greatest risks to the company’s post-IPO future. “They are responsive, engaged and big thinkers when it comes to Internet policy,” said Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), chairwoman of a key House privacy panel. “Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg … clearly understand how important it is on Capitol Hill to be politically savvy, not just tech-savvy.”