Apple’s spend on lobbying the federal government in the first quarter has been revealed to total $560,000 – matching its spend a year earlier to as it lobbied for green technology, technology spending and other issues, theAFP reports.
The Cupertino-based company’s spend is around a third of rivals Google and Microsoft, which spent $1.48 million in the first quarter, up $100,000 a year ago, with Microsoft spending $1.72 million in the first quarter of 2010 and 2011.
Money spent went towards lobbying the House, Senate and Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies after the company had begun to replace hazardous materials in its gadgets with less harmful and more recyclable substances. The company also tuned its A4 processing chip used in its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to be more energy efficient, whilst incorporating longer-life batteries into its computers, iPods and phones.
The company also spoke with agencies over patent reform, corporate tax reform and children’s online privacy and safety.
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In contrast, Facebook – the world’s biggest social network –spent $230,000lobbying in the first quarter on issues such as online privacy, up from $130,000 spent in the fourth quarter and nearly six times the $41,390 that it spent in the same quarter last year. Facebook does not manufacture products so it is expected that its costs would be lower, but the company faces issues regarding Internet regulation, amongst others.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
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