7:51 AM PDT · September 23, 2025
Meta has intensified its counter-offensive in the ongoing battle among major tech firms regarding AI regulation. The company, known for its social media platform Facebook, has announced plans to invest “tens of millions” of dollars into a newly established super PAC aimed at opposing state-level legislative measures that could hamper AI innovation, as reported by Axios.
The super PAC, named the American Technology Excellence Project, represents Meta’s latest venture to challenge legislation it considers detrimental to AI growth. This initiative follows the launch of a California-centered PAC the previous month to support pro-tech candidates in state elections.
According to Axios, this new super PAC will be managed by Brian Baker, a veteran of Republican politics, in partnership with the Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions. The PAC aims to elect politicians from both parties who support technology advancement in the upcoming midterm elections. Rachel Holland, Meta’s spokesperson, stated that the group would focus on advocating for U.S. tech companies, promoting AI advancements, and empowering parents to control how their children engage with online applications and AI technologies.
The emphasis on parental control emerges amid rising concerns regarding child safety in relation to AI tools. Notably, Meta has faced scrutiny after internal documents leaked indicated that the company permitted its chatbots to engage in “romantic” conversations with minors, alongside whistleblower claims alleging suppression of child safety research.
As of now, Meta has not disclosed which states the super PAC will prioritize or the number of personnel it will involve.
This decision comes as numerous states propose AI regulations due to what many perceive as a lack of federal action on the issue. During this legislative year, over 1,000 bills related to AI were introduced across all 50 states. In California, two significant bills await Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature or veto: SB 243 aims to regulate AI companion chatbots to safeguard minors and vulnerable users, while SB 53 would establish new transparency mandates for large AI corporations.
Brian Rice, Meta’s VP of public policy, highlighted the super PAC’s mission: “We will support the election of state candidates throughout the country who are advocates for AI development, support the U.S. tech industry, and safeguard American tech leadership both domestically and internationally.”
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In response to the growing push at the state level, Silicon Valley has accelerated efforts to prevent the establishment of disparate AI legislation, arguing that such regulation would present a complicated landscape for leading AI firms and potentially inhibit innovation at a critical time when the U.S. is competing with China in artificial intelligence development.
Recent initiatives include a super PAC launched by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, which has committed $100 million to oppose AI regulation. Earlier this year, a controversial proposal seeking to prevent states from implementing AI regulations for a decade was nearly included in the federal budget but was ultimately rejected.
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