God, I hate posting a Reddit comment, but this is huge. Every claim is sourced (I have not verified personally).
Edit: Well, Reddit does what reddit does, it’s been removed. Here is a github link: https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/985257
It really throws a light on the shit that they’re up to over this side of the Atlantic.
https://www.irishtimes.com/technology/big-tech/2025/10/30/data-protection-rules-completely-out-of-control-meta-tells-government/ https://archive.is/M8wbm
https://noyb.eu/en/former-meta-lobbyist-named-dpc-commissioner-meta-now-officially-regulates-itself
https://compliancehub.wiki/the-masks-are-off-ireland-appoints-meta-lobbyist-to-police-meta-on-data-protection/
Meta has engaged in significant lobbying activities within the European Union regarding privacy and content regulations, often overlapping with discussions on “chat control” (a controversial EU proposal to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material, or CSAM).
Key developments regarding Meta’s influence in the EU, based on recent reports, include:
Lobbying on AI and Tech Regulation: As of April 2025, reports suggest Meta has been actively lobbying to influence or dilute EU artificial intelligence and technology regulations.
Influence on Digital Privacy Legislation: Meta and other “Big Tech” entities have been subject to intense scrutiny and lobbying investigations concerning how they affect European privacy laws, including GDPR compliance and potential chat control measures.
Regulatory Independence Concerns: Civil society organizations (including the Centre for Countering Digital Hate and EDRi) have raised concerns about the influence of former Meta lobbyists on EU regulators, notably the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is the lead supervisor for Meta in the EU.
Antitrust and Competition Conflicts: In February 2026, the European Commission notified Meta of a statement of objections regarding the exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp, viewing this as an abuse of its dominant position. This indicates that while Meta lobbies, it is also facing heavy EU regulatory action.
Data Protection Fines: Meta has previously faced substantial fines, such as the €1.3 billion fine in 2023 linked to US-EU data transfer practices.
The “chat control” legislation has faced delays and significant debate regarding its impact on privacy vs. security, with civil liberties groups opposing the mandatory scanning mechanisms that the proposal would introduce.