Big Tech Spent $12 Million Lobbying CA Legislators in 2025
New state reports filed on Monday found Big Tech lobbying totaled $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, adding up to an eye-popping $12 million year-end total.
Press Releases
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OpenAI’s Cynical CA Ballot Ploy Threatens to Derail Youth Safety
“OpenAI is trying to fool California voters by introducing a deceivingly-named ballot initiative and muddying the waters on AI chatbot safety. It’s a cynical political play that could only be cooked up by the same executives who cozy up with Trump and praise his AI policy.”
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Big Tech’s 2025 CA Lobbying Surges to Nearly $6 Million, New State Filings Show
“Californians and their elected representatives must be hyper vigilant to these tactics and call out Big Tech’s no-holds-barred campaign to overrule the preferences of Californians, who say in poll after poll they want stronger A.I. guardrails and accountability for Big Tech.”
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Tech Oversight California Statement on Gov. Newsom A.I. Legislation Signatures & Veto
“Unfortunately, after a big-money lobbying campaign by Big Tech targeting AB 1064, we won’t be able to address the threat A.I. chatbots pose to kids and teens in California next year with the urgency the situation requires.”
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Tech Oversight California Applauds Gov. Newsom’s Signature of AB 566
“Californians will finally have an easy way to exercise their right to opt out of Big Tech companies sharing their information, stopping predatory data practices at the source.”
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Tech Oversight California Applauds Gov. Newsom’s Signature of AB 325
“We applaud Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry for her leadership to prevent digital collusion, protect online shoppers from artificially inflated prices, and safeguard fair competition for small businesses.”
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ICYMI: Parent letters put Newsom in tough position on chatbots
“The shocking tragedy of Adam’s ChatGPT-assisted loss can be a catalyst for decisive action to regulate out-of-control AI chatbots, rather than becoming our new norm.”
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Tech Oversight California Applauds CA Gov. Newsom’s Signature of SB 53
“This is a key victory for the growing movement in California and across the country to hold Big Tech CEOs accountable for their products.”
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Roundup: Big Tech’s Last-Minute California Lobbying Frenzy
“At the exact same moment their unregulated AI chatbot products are causing harm and death among young people in California and across the country, Big Tech lobbyists are scrambling to fight against basic protections for kids like those in California’s landmark LEAD for Kids Act by pouring tons of money into lobbying, ads, and dark-money…