Facebook successfully spent more than $6,600 lobbying California government to stop legislation that would have penalized social networks for displaying personal data about people under 18.
This revelation seems like it contradicts other efforts by Facebook to protect minors online, but as another group that opposed the same bill Facebook did explained to USA Today:
“We were concerned the unintended consequences would be the incentive for minors to be deceptive about their age and, in so doing, lose the many protections in place (to) protect their personal information,†Enough Is Enough President Donna Rice Hughes said.
Meanwhile Facebook is supporting other online safety legislation in California, including a bill sponsored by former state Senator George Runner, a Republican from Antelope Valley. The social network hired its first lobbyist in California, William Gonzalez, in June. These efforts complement nationally-focused lobbying that Facebook has been doing out of a growing Washington D.C. office.
As long as these efforts continue to make Facebook a safer place for everyone, then our virtual hats are off to the lobbyists. That word too often gets associated with bribes and selfish corporate interests that don’t necessarily benefit consumers. Anyone lobbying on behalf of the social network in a sense represents the going-on 600 million people who have accounts there, so let’s just hope all of our needs are reflected in the lobby.
Readers, what do you think Facebook should be lobbying for both in California and Washington D.C.?
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