Meta Platforms: Lobbying, dark money, and the App Store Accountability Act
github.com
March 13, 2026
16 min read
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58/100
Summary
Meta Platforms conducted a multi-channel influence operation to support age verification laws that transfer regulatory responsibilities from social media platforms to Apple and Google's app stores. Findings are based on public records, including IRS filings, lobbying disclosures, campaign finance databases, and other investigative sources.
Key Takeaways
- Meta Platforms spent a record $26.3 million on federal lobbying in 2025, employing over 86 lobbyists across 45 states to advocate for the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA).
- The ASAA would require app stores to verify user ages before downloads, shifting compliance costs from Meta's apps to Apple and Google without imposing new mandates on Meta.
- The investigation identified five confirmed channels linking Meta's lobbying efforts to ASAA advocacy, including direct federal lobbying and funding a "grassroots" group called the Digital Childhood Alliance.
- Meta's lobbying expenditures increased significantly from $19 million in 2022-2023 to $26.3 million in 2025, coinciding with the introduction of ASAA bills in approximately 20 states.