Meta backs state candidates with a $65 million political budget

In short: Meta set a $65 million budget for a political effort aimed at electing state candidates it believes will support AI and the tech industry.

What happened

Meta has launched a political campaign focused on state-level elections. The company says it is worried that new rules made by states could slow down AI development.

The $65 million number is the starting budget for the effort. It is spread across four super PACs, which are political groups that can raise and spend large sums to support candidates (a bit like a separate campaign wallet that can pay for ads and outreach). The figure does not necessarily mean all $65 million has already been spent.

Two of the super PACs are aimed at influencing elections nationwide, one focused on Republican candidates and one focused on Democratic candidates. Two other committees were set up earlier, including one focused on California. The effort first got underway in Texas and Illinois.

A later report said Meta had already put $45 million into a group called the American Technology Excellence Project and another $20 million into its California-focused committee during the previous year.

Why it matters

State governments make rules that can affect how AI systems are built and used, including privacy, safety, and what companies are allowed to do with data. Meta is trying to shape who writes those rules by supporting candidates it sees as friendly to tech. For everyday people, this can influence what protections they get, what choices they have online, and how much power large companies have in setting the boundaries for AI.

Source: NYTimes