Apple spent $1.56 million on lobbying fees in the third quarter of 2020, a new report reveals.
Apple directed seven lobbyists to influence the *deep breath* U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Defense, Federal Communications Commission, Treasury Department, Health & Human Services, U.S. Trade Representative, State Department, Homeland Security, Office of Management & Budget, National Institute of Standards & Technology, and Executive Office of the President.
Issues that Apple was particularly vocal about include patent reform, the environment, tax breaks on semiconductor fabrication, autonomous vehicles, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Under Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple’s overall lobbying spend has increased. Cook is more politically outspoken than his predecessor Steve Jobs.
However, the increased lobbying also likely reflects the bigger role Apple plays in the world here in 2020. While Apple was still, well, Apple under Steve Jobs, today it is a $2 trillion giant with its finger in far more pies. This year, it has been one of the tech giants scrutinized by Congress as part of a larger antitrust investigation.
The House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee recently concluded that Apple wields “monopoly power” over its competitors. If this anti-tech rhetoric ramps up in the next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see lobbying spend increase accordingly.
Source: Disclosures Preview
Via: Apple Insider