On Wednesday, July 29, the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee held a hearing with the main executives of Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon, but the impartiality of this meeting, like much of the way money changes hands in politics, has been called into question thanks to large monetary donations to committee members by the aforementioned companies.
Monopolies in technology markets have become a relevant problem for world politicians. Large companies not only limit the ability of smaller companies to emerge, but they can also manipulate public opinion.
It’s for this reason that a hearing was scheduled. The problem is that there is a possibility that this meeting means less than it does on the surface as participating companies have made monetary donations to most of the committee members.
Is it right that those Big Tech companies who are facing antitrust scrutiny should be allowed to donate to those who are deciding their fate?
Although these donations may not be more than a tip for companies, the truth is that the amounts are not so small. Data from Open Secrets via Breitbart.
Apple, the company that donated the least to its cause, offered a total of $13,962 during 2020 to the committee, which was divided into $12,167 for Democratic members, while Republicans only received $1,795.
Of those who appeared today:
Republicans:
- $0 to Antitrust House Judiciary members
Democrats:
- $2,800 to Raskin
- $198 to Jayapal
- $2,033 to McBath
The other three companies have been somewhat more charitable. Amazon has donated $124,700 in the same period. Again, Democrats benefited the most with a total of $88,410, while Republicans settled for $36,290. The curious thing about Amazon’s case is that part of this money came from individuals from the company.
Of those who appeared today:
Republicans:
- $1,730 to Jordan
- $715 to Gaetz
- $2,500 to Buck
- $2,500 to Steube
Democrats:
- $9,900 to Cicilline
- $1,000 to Neguse
- $1,000 to Johnson
- $4,510 to Raskin
- $15,398 to Jayapal
- $6,000 to Demings
- $1,015 to McBath
Google has made the largest donation among them, offering the committee a total of $140,939, dividing it into $96,939 for Democrats and $44,000 for Republicans. Google, however, has also offered substantial amounts to top subcommittee members, such as Rep. Ken Buck ($5,000) or Joe Neguse ($6,570).
Of those who appeared today:
Republicans:
- $10,000 to Ranking Member Jordan (R-OH)
- $5,000 to Buck (R-CO)
- $1,000 Steube (R-FL)
Democrats:
- $8,705 to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Nalder (D-NY)
- $6,570 to Neguse (D-CO)
- $2,500 to Johnson (D-GA)
- $2,000 to Raskin (D-MD)
- $1,941 to Jaypal (D-WA)
- $2,025 to Demings (D-FL)
- $2,101 to Scanlon (D-PA)
- $5,531 to McBath (D-GA)
Finally, there is Facebook, who was not far behind and donated a total of $110,390, offering $100,620 to House Judiciary Democrats and $9,770 to Republicans. In this case, most of the donations came from Google’s people, totaling $85,890.
Of those who appeared today:
Republicans:
- $770 to Jordan
- $1,000 to Armstrong
Democrats:
- $16,705 to Nadler
- $1,210 to Raskin
- $1,613 to Jayapal
- $3,800 to Demings
- $1,000 to Scanlon
- $12,783 to McBath
However, during the hearing, it was mostly the Republicans who, while they were concerned about censorship online, didn’t express much desire to break up Big Tech companies. On the other hand, Democrats, who are more financially rewarded by Big Tech, seemed to be asking the tougher questions when it came to anticompetitive behavior.
