Experts note that the technology industry is much more willing to invest in lobbying compared to other corporate sectors, such as automotive and pharmaceuticals. Among the largest lobbyists are companies like Meta, which spends 10 million euros, as well as Microsoft and Apple, each allocating 7 million euros for these purposes.
According to Bram Vrancken from Corporate Europe Observatory, "The European Union is actively discussing deregulation issues, easing core standards, data protection, and artificial intelligence regulation, which gives large tech companies the opportunity to increase their lobbying budgets and attempt to weaken these standards."
The digital sector not only has the largest financial resources for lobbying but also actively engages with government representatives. For example, in the first half of 2025, major tech companies held 146 meetings with high-ranking officials from the European Commission.
Topics of discussion included artificial intelligence, data centers, as well as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
The increase in lobbying expenses occurs against the backdrop of pressure from the United States aimed at revising regulations concerning online platforms and AI technologies.
Vrancken also emphasizes: "Currently, key security guarantees, including digital ones, are under threat. This is due both to deregulation initiated by the European Commission and the actions of large tech companies that have made agreements allowing them to actively counter European legislation."
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance noted in February that "freedom of speech in Europe is under threat," and in August, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged diplomats to undermine the EU Digital Services Act.
NGOs emphasize that over the past year, lobbying groups in the tech sector have actively used their large budgets to achieve deregulation of digital standards in the EU. This is confirmed by the fact that large companies hold, on average, more than one meeting with EU Commission officials per day with lobbyists.
This pressure has led to discussions about a possible suspension of the Artificial Intelligence Act, which regulates the use of AI systems based on their risks to society.
However, the European Commission has stated that it does not consider the possibility of a "pause" in the process of implementing AI-related rules.
At the same time, the expected package of measures to be presented by the European Commission in mid-November may include reliefs for companies subject to the Artificial Intelligence Act.
