Meta Spent $6.5 Million in Q4 as Federal Privacy Bill Stalled
Meta Platforms Inc. hit a record lobbying spend in the final quarter of 2025, coinciding with the indefinite postponement of key data privacy legislation. Federal records show hundreds of thousands in PAC donations reached committee members just days before scheduled votes were cancelled.
Meta successfully stalled federal privacy legislation by timing a record-breaking $6.5 million lobbying blitz and $245,000 in PAC donations to coincide with key committee deadlines.
Meta Platforms Inc. deployed $6.5 million in federal lobbying during the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing its annual total to a record-breaking $22 million. This financial surge occurred as the House Energy and Commerce Committee indefinitely postponed markup sessions for the 'AI Accountability and Data Privacy Act' (AADPA). While mainstream coverage cited 'technical complexities' for the delay, the paper trail suggests a more direct financial correlation.
FEC filings reveal a precise tactical deployment of capital. Between November 12 and November 14, 2025, Meta’s PAC disbursed $245,000 to 12 members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Within 48 hours of these payments, the committee announced the fourth delay of the AADPA legislative calendar. This effectively bottled the bill in subcommittee, preventing it from reaching a floor vote where public scrutiny would be significantly higher.
The strategy is overseen by Joel Kaplan, Meta’s VP of Global Public Policy and a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Kaplan’s team in Q4 consisted of 42 individual lobbyists, 65% of whom are former congressional staffers or federal agency officials. Among them are five former staffers of the very committee currently overseeing the privacy bill. This 'revolving door' influence has already yielded results: the specific 'Duty of Care' language in the latest draft was weakened to mirror Meta's internal policy white papers almost verbatim.
Mainstream narratives frequently attribute the stalling of tech regulation to 'partisan gridlock.' However, the AADPA initially launched with broad bipartisan support. The gridlock only materialized as Meta outspent consumer advocacy groups by an estimated 50-to-1 ratio. This allows the company to ensure that the only 'experts' in the room during drafting sessions are those on the Meta payroll.
For the average user, this legislative stalemate means personal data remains an unregulated commodity. AI models will continue to be trained on private information without user consent or compensation. The federal right to 'opt-out' of invasive tracking is effectively dead for the foreseeable future, as corporate cash continues to hold the gate shut on consumer protections.
Summary
Meta Platforms Inc. hit a record lobbying spend in the final quarter of 2025, coinciding with the indefinite postponement of key data privacy legislation. Federal records show hundreds of thousands in PAC donations reached committee members just days before scheduled votes were cancelled.
⚡ Key Facts
- Meta's $6.5M Q4 expenditure is the highest single-quarter lobbying spend in the company’s history.
- Twelve House Energy and Commerce Committee members received $245,000 in PAC funds within 48 hours of bill delays.
- The AI Accountability and Data Privacy Act (AADPA) has been stalled four times despite initial bipartisan support.
- 65% of Meta’s 42 lobbyists are former government officials, including five former Energy and Commerce staffers.
- Weakened 'Duty of Care' language in the bill draft mirrors Meta’s internal corporate positioning.
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