Spree confirms growing magnitude of Big Tech’s in-state political influence machine
SACRAMENTO – Independent expenditure filings released today show that a Meta- and Google-backed California Super PAC spent $2.4 million on state legislative races over just four days this month, in its bid to influence lawmakers away from tech accountability legislation that would protect children and teens and lower costs for families.
“Big Tech’s agenda is wildly unpopular, so they’re spending unprecedented money to buy influence in Sacramento, hoping to convince lawmakers to side with them over their constituents. They’re running this same playbook in states across the country, spending big to keep lawmakers in line and avoid accountability, but Americans want AI working for us, not the other way around. Millions of dollars in Big Tech ads can’t whitewash Google and Meta’s track record of endangering children and teens and raising costs for California families,” said Tech Oversight California Executive Director Sacha Haworth.
The Meta- and Google-backed Super PAC, California Leads, is aimed at blocking Sacramento from setting meaningful rules of the road when it comes to AI – and allowing Big Tech to keep writing its own rules instead.
Recent research by Tech Equity shows that an overwhelming majority of Californians support the kind of reforms the Meta- and Google-backed Super PAC is spending big to oppose, with 81% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans in the state supporting strong AI regulation.
This year’s influx of AI-linked political money in Sacramento will be a focus of tomorrow’s 10AM PT Tech Oversight California press call outlining the path forward for California’s 2026 legislative session. For more information and to RSVP, contact press@techoversightcalifornia.org.
Meanwhile, AI Super PAC cash is also becoming a flashpoint in 2026 Congressional races. Leading the Future, the largest Big Tech AI-backed federal Super PAC, which has begun endorsing candidates on both sides of the aisle, raised $15 million in Q1 alone.