background preloader

Facebook

Facebook Twitter

Facebook pours $4M into lobbying efforts. Facebook's aggressive lobbying push is a sign of the company's expanding footprint in Washington as it responds to questioning from lawmakers and regulators on how it protects its users' personal information.

Facebook pours $4M into lobbying efforts

The company is still a relatively young player on the scene, having filed its first lobbying disclosure form in 2009. In the fourth quarter, Facebook lobbied lawmakers and federal agencies on a range of online privacy issues, such as protecting children's safety online and "Do Not Track" privacy policies, as well as high-skilled immigration reform, international regulation of software companies, cybersecurity and educating lawmakers on online advertising. Facebook also lobbied on issues regarding restrictions on Web access in foreign countries and protecting freedom of expression online. Facebook lobbying sets record in Q2 - David Saleh Rauf. Facebook Wants To Increase European Lobbying Work.

In a presentation to BELTUG, Belgium’s largest independent group of ICT managers, Facebook’s head of its Brussels office, Erika Mann, a former member of European Parliament and board member of ICANN, talked about her role at the social networking behemoth and the work she does out of Europe’s capital city.

Facebook Wants To Increase European Lobbying Work

Mann is no stranger to the world of international lobbying – she was formerly an executive vice president at Computer & Communications Industry Association. As transcribed by Data News (article in Dutch), Mann said she and one other team member make up the entire staff at Facebook’s Belgian office today, but that the company is looking to fill 2 more positions (3 according to Facebook’s Careers page), including a Public Policy Manager EU and Administrative Assistant. The main activity of the Brussels office is, unsurprisingly, building and maintaining relationships with a variety of European institutions.

Hollywood Pressures D.C. Lobbyists To Cut Ties With Facebook. Three of the four Washington, D.C. lobbying firms Facebook had hired abruptly terminated their contracts with the social networking giant.

Hollywood Pressures D.C. Lobbyists To Cut Ties With Facebook

Citing conflicts of interest, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, the Glover Park Group and TeleMedia Policy Group have all walked away from contracts with Facebook, which upped its spending on lobbying efforts to $1.4 million last year from $351,000 in 2010. While all of the firms and Facebook declined comment, Politico is reporting that the firms are siding with content providers over Internet firms in the growing battle on Capitol Hill. Only one firm, Elmendorf Ryan, remains under contract with Facebook, according to Senate filings.

But the Palo Alto, Calif. -based firm probably won't have to look hard to replace the three firms that left; with a initial public offering in the works that could value the company at more than $100 billion, D.C. lobbyists see Facebook as being flush with cash. Facebook suffers lobbying exodus - Anna Palmer. Facebook hires former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart. Facebook May Hire Robert Gibbs, Former Obama Aide. Facebook is in talks to hire Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s former White House press secretary, for a senior role in helping to manage the company’s communications, people briefed on the negotiations said.

Facebook May Hire Robert Gibbs, Former Obama Aide

Facebook is seeking out Mr. Gibbs ahead of an initial public offering planned for early 2012, these people said. To see the full article, subscribe here. Facebook hires former Boehner aide. Facebook hires new public policy director from ACLU. Facebook changes its lobbying status in Washington. By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY SAN FRANCISCO — As lawmakers and regulators ponder sweeping changes to online privacy law, Facebook is working to shape its image on Capitol Hill and avert measures potentially damaging to its information-sharing business.

Facebook changes its lobbying status in Washington

The world's largest social-networking site is increasing its Washington office, spending more on lobbying and meeting with lawmakers, congressional staff and privacy experts who question whether the company is adequately protecting the personal information of its 500 million users. Founder Mark Zuckerberg is also on a charm offensive to show he's on the right side of the debate. Facebook lobbied to kill bill aimed at social media. Facebook Ramps Up Lobbying Spend In Q1 2011, Up 400 Percent To A Record $230K. It’s no secret that Facebook is deepening its ties with the Beltway crowd.

Facebook Ramps Up Lobbying Spend In Q1 2011, Up 400 Percent To A Record $230K

As we saw yesterday, the company hosted a town hall meeting with President Obama and has steadily ramping up its lobbying efforts in 2010, spending over $350,000 on lobbying efforts last year. But the company recently disclosed its Q1 spend on lobbying and the company shelled out a record $230,000 on lobbying activities in the quarter, which is up by over 400 percent from $41,390 spent in Q1 2010. This data is recorded in the U.S. Senate’s lobbying database.

A New Facebook Lobbying Team Emerges. To date, Facebook has taken a slower pace with building up its presence in Washington, D.C.

A New Facebook Lobbying Team Emerges

But now it looks like that’s about to change. Privacy issues in particular have given politicians new reason to assert their role in protecting users and controlling industry. With the hires earlier this week of experienced political staffers Joel Kaplan and Myriah Jordan, the company has connections deep into both parties, in position to dampen new efforts to regulate it. Here’s a quick sketch of the people and the structure of the growing organization. It’s important to note that Facebook is just starting to fill positions around the world, even as it appears to have completed significant hiring already for the US. The issues aren’t just about privacy, although various pieces of legislation continue to work their way through parts of Congress, and Facebook occasionally continues to get upset letters from politicians.

Executives Public Policy Team United States Worldwide. Delphine Reyre, Carnet.

Kids under 13 ?