The spending of major tech companies on lobbying activities before the European Parliament has reached record levels, according to a recent report by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl based on the EU Transparency Register. In just two years, investment in lobbying by the digital sector has increased from €113 million in 2023 to €151 million currently, representing a 33.6% increase and 56% more compared to 2021. The companies that invest the most in these activities are Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, which together account for over €31 million. The main objective of this lobbying, according to the authors of the study, is to soften European digital regulation. Since the General Data Protection Regulation came into effect in 2016, the EU has implemented regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aim to protect consumers and regulate the power of large platforms. These laws directly affect the business models of Big Tech, especially regarding revenue, data control, and competitive advantages. A Reuters study indicates that 10% of Meta's revenue comes from fraudulent ads and prohibited products, with 15 billion misleading ads daily. The DSA requires platforms to remove this content, leading to intense pressure to relax these regulations. Major tech companies hold nearly two meetings daily with MEPs, according to the Transparency Register. This influence has already yielded results: the EU has granted an additional 16 months for companies to adapt their high-risk AI to the regulations. Only ten companies, including Telefónica, account for a third of total tech lobbying spending in Europe. Meta leads the ranking with €10 million annually. The phenomenon known as the "digital omnibus" has postponed the implementation of transparency requirements and penalties, which could weaken the ethical ambition of the European AI Regulation scheduled for August 2024. This trend coincides with a relaxation of environmental requirements in the EU, under the argument of reducing regulatory burdens and avoiding duplications. Lobbying is regulated in the EU and is considered legitimate to protect the general interest. However, the problem arises when companies achieve regulatory changes that benefit particular interests. The number of lobbyists in the digital sector has grown from 699 in 2023 to 890 currently, even surpassing the number of MEPs. Bram Vranken, co-author of the study, warns that the pressure from the tech industry is influencing decision-making at all levels of the EU, leading to proposals to weaken digital legislation and allow broader use of personal data in AI systems and automated decisions. According to Vranken, this represents the greatest setback in digital rights in Europe, driven by tech lobbying and supported by figures like Donald Trump. The sector perceives that billions in fines, market shares, and access to data are at stake in Brussels. Pablo Arce, a professor of Economic Policy at UCM, notes that the ability of tech companies to influence the drafting and interpretation of laws daily is unparalleled, and they seek fewer obligations and greater regulatory flexibility. Influence is exerted through technicalities in legal texts and by funding think tanks, economic studies, and lobbying consultancies, with spending exceeding €9 million in this last area. Additionally, the public narrative pushed by these companies claims that regulation stifles innovation, thus conditioning the political debate. Among the MEPs who have held the most meetings with Big Tech lobbyists are members of the European People's Party, such as Jörgen Warborn, Aura Salla, and Pablo Arias Echeverría. Salla, a former lobbyist for Meta, has been criticized for echoing industry arguments. Amazon, for its part, lost its lobbying accreditations in February 2024 after refusing to appear before Parliament regarding labor conditions in its warehouses. The regulation of artificial intelligence is currently one of the most pressured topics, with AI present in 40% of meetings between the digital sector and European politicians. Major tech companies seek the least regulation possible to maximize their profits, as AI affects key sectors such as defense, energy, education, and infrastructure control. However, the European Parliament can halt the most favorable proposals for tech companies, although this requires a center-right and far-right majority, as other groups oppose the "digital omnibus." Vranken emphasizes the importance of enforcing existing regulations and mobilizing society to counteract lobbying influence. Source: elpais.com