On the heels of Yahoo! Inc.’s first transparency report on government requests for user data, the tech giant has revealed more details about its interactions with Washington, D.C., putting its lobbying efforts in the spotlight.
Yahoo on Friday disclosed its “U.S. Political Engagement Policy,” which describes how it seeks to influence U.S. policymakers through lobbyists, campaign donations, and advocacy groups. On its investor relations website, the company has details about its U.S. government engagement guidelines and political philosophy. Additionally, the website posts information on Yahoo’s political action committee contributions and lobbying activities, which also are available to the public through U.S. government databases.
The release of the information follows the publication last month of Yahoo’s first transparency report on government requests it receives. The report came after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s leaks about the agency’s far-reaching access to user information held by tech companies.
“This is our latest step to transparently inform our users, shareholders, and government stakeholders about Yahoo’s activities and values,” Margaret Nagle, the company’s head of U.S. government affairs, wrote in a blog post. “At Yahoo, we are committed to helping create an informed government and to promote and protect the long-term interests of our users and our company through civic participation and community involvement.”
Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., and other tech industry players have publicly available codes of conduct and policies that touch on how employees should interact with public officials. But few of these companies, if any, have on their websites readily available information that provides as many details about their political engagement as Yahoo does.
Yahoo has several “U.S. Political Engagement Guidelines,” which outline what the company will—and won’t—do to shape U.S. laws and regulations and keep the public abreast of its government affairs activities.
According to the company’s guidelines, participating in the U.S. political process includes following federal and states laws on political giving and disclosure, and regularly updating its website on its political contributions, lobbying activities, and participation in advocacy groups. But it doesn’t include making political donations in exchange for official actions, coercing employees to make political contributions, or using company money to advance the private political interests of its executives. The guidelines also note that any political-engagement expenditure that exceeds $100,000 needs the approval of Yahoo general counsel Ron Bell.
“Yahoo believes that responsible corporate citizenship demands a strong commitment to a healthy and informed democracy through civic participation and community involvement,” according to the company’s philosophy. “Numerous laws and regulations cover our business. New laws and regulations, and changes to existing ones, can impair or advance our ability to innovate, can affect our strategies and the health of the Internet industry generally, and can affect our costs and infrastructure needs.”
The company spent $1.4 million on federal lobbying during the first half of this year, according to its government filings. For its advocacy efforts, Yahoo used four of its own employees, as well as D.C. lawyer Jonathan Band and lobbyists from Kountoupes | Denham, Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, and TwinLogic Strategies. The company lobbied on issues that included Internet privacy, intellectual property, and tax reform.
During the first six months of 2013, Yahoo, through its PAC, doled out $16,750 to federal lawmakers, including Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company also made $33,200 in state political donations during the first half of this year, mostly to campaign coffers in their home state.
Additionally, Yahoo notes that it actively supports 20 advocacy groups, including The Internet Association, Digital Advertising Association, and International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Andrew Ramonas is a reporter with The National Law Journal, a Recorder affiliate.
