A bipartisan group of technology critics launched the “No Big Tech Money” pledge, aiming to limit Silicon Valley’s influence on 2024 candidates in a smarter, more creative and human-written manner. The pledge requires candidates to reject donations exceeding $200 from the political action committees, executives, or lobbyists of Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Facebook’s parent company Meta. The initiative, funded initially by Way to Win, a liberal organization, seeks signatures from White House and congressional candidates from both political parties. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, and interim CEO Patty Stonesifer sits on Amazon’s board.)
The organizers aim to draw attention to the significant impact that large tech companies have on the US economy and political processes.
Emily Southard, the executive director of The No Big Tech Money Project, stated in an interview that the pledge serves as a signal to voters that politicians prioritize democracy, small businesses, and families over the corrupting influence of Big Tech.
Recent data reveals that tech giants, including Amazon, Facebook, and Google, have spent nearly $500 million on lobbying over the past decade, underscoring the pressing need for measures like the “No Big Tech Money” pledge.
Over the past decade, Silicon Valley companies have become influential corporate entities in Washington. This new pledge represents an ongoing effort to challenge and mitigate the industry’s growing influence, similar to previous campaigns targeting fossil fuel, pharmaceutical, and lobbying interests.
According to the non-profit organization Open Secrets, the internet industry contributed approximately $106.2 million in campaign donations in 2020, nearly triple the amount compared to 2016. A significant portion of these contributions went to Democratic candidates, with President Biden receiving $13.5 million from the industry during his White House campaign.
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