Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push To Advance AI Agenda

Source: Slashdot

Overview

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the New York Times: Meta is preparing to spend $65 million this year to boost state politicians who are friendly to the artificial‑intelligence industry, beginning this week in Texas and Illinois, according to company representatives. The sum is the biggest election investment by Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Meta previously made only modest political contributions through a corporate political‑action committee and donations to presidential inaugurations, and allowed executives such as former COO Sheryl Sandberg to support candidates in their personal capacities.

Now Meta is betting larger on politics, driven by concerns over a regulatory threat to the AI industry. The company aims to counter legislation in states it fears could inhibit AI development.

New Super PACs and Funding

Meta is quietly launching two new super PACs, according to federal filings obtained by the New York Times:

• Forge the Future Project – backs Republican candidates.
• Making Our Tomorrow – backs Democratic candidates.

These join two existing Meta‑sponsored entities: one focused on California and an umbrella organization that finances spending in other states. Together, the four super PACs have an initial budget of $65 million.

Meta’s spending is set to start this week in Illinois and Texas, where the company typically backs incumbents of either party or engages in open races rather than attempting to unseat existing officials.

Prior Political Activity

Last year, Meta’s public‑policy vice president, Brian Rice, said the company would increase political spending because of “inconsistent regulations that threaten homegrown innovation and investments in AI.”

Meta’s first two super PACs were:

• American Technology Excellence Project – received $45 million in September.
• Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California – received $20 million in August (often shortened to “META California”).

The $45 million allocated to the American Technology Excellence Project is expected to flow to Forge the Future Project, Making Our Tomorrow, and potentially other entities.

California Activities

In California, which has some of the nation’s most stringent campaign‑finance disclosure rules, Meta has made several contributions:

• $20 million to Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California (META California) in August.
• $5 million to California Leads in December, a committee focused on promoting moderate business policy rather than AI, according to state records.

State law requires the sponsoring company to be disclosed in the name of the entity, which is why the California PACs carry Meta’s branding.