Big Tech firms flood Brussels with record lobbying as EU digital rules tighten
US tech giants Google, Apple and Amazon have dramatically increased their lobbying contacts with EU officials, holding hundreds of meetings since the 2024 elections.
New data indicates that Google, Apple and Amazon have collectively secured hundreds of meetings with EU decision-makers since the 2024 European elections, with Google alone recording 302 encounters. This lobbying intensity places the three US firms ahead of European giants such as Airbus, Volkswagen and TotalEnergies. Financial disclosures show the technology sector devoted roughly €73 million to Brussels lobbying, outspending finance (€66.75 million) and energy (€52 million).
The figures come from a study of 173 firms and associations that each report at least €1 million in annual EU lobbying budgets, totalling €381.75 million overall. Transparency International EU’s Raphaël Kergueno highlighted concerns that smaller organisations lack comparable access. The surge occurs as the EU rolls out the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act and the forthcoming AI Act, which carry significant implications for the business models of these tech giants.
Why it matters
The scale of Big Tech's lobbying could shape EU digital regulations that affect millions of users and global markets.
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