Lobbying Activity of Tech Companies in USA: Modern Agenda, Tactics and Perspectives

Lobbyism in the United States arose simultaneously with the state itself, and a democratic system of government contributed to its rapid development. Each year, lobbying groups in Washington spend billions of dollars to influence the state’s domestic and foreign policies, and in turn, the country's economy. They invest in the process of forming laws and regulations in accordance with their own interests. There is no doubt that the legislative, executive and judicial powers of the United States reckon with their opinions and desires. Business structures are an important part of society and inevitably play an important role in shaping the political landscape, especially in the United States. Without them, the state cannot exist, and they know this, which means they can attract huge sums of money for persuasion, so that they can benefit from political decisions in the short and long term. Lobbyists step up their activities when relevant and significant parts of the legislation are active on the agenda of Congress or the executive branch. The “agenda” is constantly changing, but it’s interesting to see which becomes relevant and which is not. This is especially true for large technology companies, which are becoming very important players for promoting their interests not only in the United States, but also on the world stage. Moreover, their lobbying costs are almost the same as the first industry on this list: pharmaceutical. An analysis of texts and visual materials will be used as methods for collecting and processing empirical data. Databases such as LobbyView (MIT) and OpenSecrets from Center for Responsive Politics will be used to collect data for further analysis.