EU: NGOs accuse technology companies and associations of lobbying the EU to weaken existing human rights protections and prevent the adoption of new safeguards; incl. company responses  

In January, NGOs Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl published an analysis claiming that the “Digital Omnibus” is largely the result of extensive lobbying by major technology companies and affiliated lobby organisations. They describe the European Commission’s plans to reopen legislation such as the Artificial Intelligence Act, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive and the Data Act as an “unprecedented attack” on digital rights and argue that the European Commission adopted key lobbying messaging advanced by large tech companies. Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl further allege that Meta and Google’s lobbying strategies included engagement with far-right political actors.

Business and Human Rights Centre invited Google, Meta, Microsoft, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), DigitalEurope, DOT Europe, Information Technology Industry Council and Insurance Europe to respond to the allegations. Their response and non-response can be found below.

In a second publication released in February, Corporate Europe Observatory alleges that several major technology companies and industry associations engaged in lobbying efforts to weaken or halt the proposed Digital Fairness Act. The Act is intended to address public health impacts of social media by targeting features considered addictive, which the report argues are central to the business models of these technology companies.

Business and Human Rights Centre invited the named companies (Apple, Google, Meta, Snap, Spotify and Tiktok) and lobby associations (Allied for Startups, BusinessEurope, CCIA, the Chamber of Progress, Consumer Choice Center Europe, DigitalEurope, Dot Europe, European Tech Alliance (EUTA), the Federation of European Data and Marketing (FEDMA) and Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Europe) to respond to this report. Apple, Snap, Tiktok, Allied for Startups, Chamber of Progress, Digital Europe, EUTA, FEDMA and IAB Europe have responded and rejected the claims made by the Corporate Europe Observatory. Their full responses are available below. Where companies and associations commented on allegations from both reports, we published this as one joint response per entity. Google, Meta, Spotify, BusinessEurope, Consumer Choice Center Europe and Dot Europe did not respond. CCIA declined to comment.

Separately, the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) has published a series of reports alleging that “Big Tech” companies are distorting democratic processes and dismantling regulatory safeguards through coordinated lobbying strategies across multiple jurisdictions, including the EU and the United States. According to SOMO, these efforts involve extensive use of trade associations, law firms and think tanks to shape legislative agendas, delay enforcement and reframe public debates around competitiveness and innovation. The organisation argues that such practices risk weakening accountability frameworks designed to protect fundamental rights in the digital environment. SOMO offered companies and organisations the opportunity to respond to their analysis. Full responses can be accessed here.

Note: This story will be updated if additional responses are received.