Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon spent $49m on Washington lobbying last year, and there is a well-oiled revolving door of Silicon Valley executives to and from senior government positions. Soft powerBeyond the direct lobbying spend, which is publicly reported, Silicon Valley exerts influence on policymakers and citizens through opaque “soft power” techniques. There’s also a revolving door of Silicon Valley executives to and from senior government positions. Silicon Valley’s rootsDuring the 1990s, In the early days of the dotcom era, internet companies flourished in Silicon Valley by skirting the law, moving fast and breaking things. However, as Washington’s appetite for action against Silicon Valley grows, some question what such action could achieve.

Source: The Guardian September 03, 2017 06:00 UTC