Why it matters: Meta significantly ramped up its lobbying efforts in Q1 2025, spending $7.99 million — a 43% increase from the previous quarter — as Congress advanced legislation targeting nonconsensual intimate imagery online.
The big picture: Meta’s lobbying surge comes as tech platforms face increasing regulatory pressure on multiple fronts, with online safety and content moderation emerging as priority issues for lawmakers.
By the numbers:
- $7.99 million spent on lobbying in Q1 2025
- 43.19% increase from Q4 2024
Driving the news: The TAKE IT DOWN Act has passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support, requiring platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of notification.
- The Senate passed the bill via Unanimous Consent in February
- The House approved it 409-2 in April
- The legislation specifically targets deepfakes and other non-consensual intimate visual content
Behind the scenes: Meta deployed a veteran lobbying team with deep ties to relevant congressional committees:
- Christopher Herndon, who previously served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senior Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee
- John Branscome, former Chief Counsel on the Senate Commerce Committee
- Sonia Gill, who worked as Senior Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee
The other side: Meta isn’t alone in lobbying on the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Other organizations engaging on the bill include Snap Inc., Epic Games, the Entertainment Software Association, and the National Fraternal Order of Police.
Between the lines: Meta’s lobbying extends beyond this single piece of legislation. The company’s disclosure reveals engagement on numerous issues including:
- Online safety and content moderation
- Data privacy and security
- Artificial intelligence regulation
- International trade and data flows
- Section 230 liability protections
What they’re saying: Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01), a cosponsor of the House companion bill, described it as "a critical step to hold bad actors accountable" that would prevent platforms from being "complicit" in the spread of nonconsensual intimate imagery.
What to watch: With the TAKE IT DOWN Act soon to become law, attention will turn to implementation and enforcement – and whether Meta and other platforms can meet the 48-hour takedown requirement.