Theodore Schleifer, The New York Times; Meta Withdraws $25 Million From Its Midterms Push
The company outlined a $65 million budget last year when it embarked on an effort to elect state politicians friendly to the A.I. industry.
"Meta’s effort to shape the midterm elections has quietly become $25 million smaller.
About a year ago, the Silicon Valley company announced an ambitious effort to elect state politicians who are friendly to the artificial intelligence industry, eventually outlining a $65 million budget for the operation. The subtext, heard loud and clear in states debating A.I. legislation, like California, Illinois and Texas: Meta’s political team was watching, and to be feared.
But this summer, with no announcement, Meta received $25 million of that cash back from political groups it had funded, according to filings made public this week. That made the company’s campaign budget about 40 percent smaller than at the outset."
