Meta Launches Pro-AI Super PAC in California, Aiming to Influence State-Level AI Regulation

Meta to spend tens of millions on pro-AI super PAC | TechCrunch

Meta plans to launch a super PAC to support California candidates favoring a light-touch approach to AI regulation, Politico reports. The news comes as other Silicon Valley behemoths, like Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Greg Brockman, pledge $100 million for a new pro-AI super PAC. Meta will pour tens of millions into its new group, dubbed Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California, according to Politico. Brian Rice, Meta's VP of public policy and head of the new PAC, has argued that Sacramento's regulatory environment "could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk." Meta's lobbying force earlier this year targeted state Sen. Scott Wiener's SB-53 bill that would require AI firms to publish safety and security protocols and issue reports when safety incidents occur. Last year, it helped kill the Kids Online Safety Act that was widely expected to pass. The social media giant has already donated to various down-ballet candidates from both parties. This new PAC signals an intent to influence statewide elections, including the next governor's race in 2026.

Meta to launch California super-PAC backing pro-AI candidates

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Meta (META.O), opens new tab said on Tuesday it will launch a California-focused political action committee to back state-level candidates favoring lighter regulation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence. The group, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California -- a super-PAC, will support candidates for state offices from either party who advocate AI innovation over stringent rules. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, potentially positioning the company among the state's top political spenders ahead of the 2026 governor race. California will elect its next governor in November 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom's national profile has surged amid a series of confrontations with President Donald Trump, positioning him as a high-visibility Democratic figure. The office of the California governor did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Meta's move to back candidates who favor AI-friendly policies aligns with its business interests, as the social media company is pouring billions to better compete in Silicon Valley's intensifying AI race and develop new cash flows. "Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk," said Brian Rice, Meta vice president of public policy. California has been among the most aggressive states in pursuing AI and social media regulation and state officials will shape rules on safety, transparency and consumer protection that could impact tech companies' products. Rice will head the PAC alongside fellow public policy VP Greg Maurer as principal officers, according to a company spokesperson. Companies such as Uber (UBER.N), opens new tab and Airbnb (ABNB.O), opens new tab have used such campaign-focused, multi-million dollar strategies to build clout in Sacramento, according to Politico, which first reported the development. Venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman are among those helping launch and fund Leading the Future, a new super-PAC network focused on AI, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Alan Barona Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Meta to launch California super PAC backing pro-AI candidates, Politico reports

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Meta (META.O), opens new tab is setting up a new California-focused political action committee (PAC) to back state-level candidates favoring lighter regulation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, Politico reported on Tuesday. The group, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California - a 'super' PAC, will support candidates for state offices from either party who advocate AI innovation over stringent rules, the report said. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, potentially positioning the company among the state's top political spenders ahead of the 2026 governor race, Politico said. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Meta is launching a California super PAC

Meta is throwing its resources behind a new super PAC in California. According to Politico, the group will support state-level political candidates who espouse tech-friendly policies, particularly those with a loose approach to regulating artificial intelligence. The budget behind the social media company's new super PAC, dubbed Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, is reported to be in the tens of millions of dollars, but no exact figure has been disclosed. California has made several efforts, with varying degrees of success, to enact protections against potentially harmful AI use cases. The state passed a law in 2024, but has faced challenges to a bill that blocked and to one that more broadly sought caused by AI. This creation of the super PAC puts Meta into a prominent position to influence races in 2026, when California will have midterm elections and vote for a new governor. "Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk," said Brian Rice, vice president of public policy at Meta. Politico reported that Rice and Meta policy executive Greg Maurer are likely to lead the political fundraiser. Meta hasn't been shy about throwing money into politics to advance its business interests. According to OpenSecrets, the company has spent on lobbying to date this year. Its roughly $8 million lobbying spend in the first quarter of 2025 vastly that of other tech majors.

Meta to back pro-AI candidates in California

San Francisco (United States) (AFP) - Meta is launching a political action committee in California to support candidates who favor lighter regulation of artificial intelligence in the state that is home to Silicon Valley. The tech world powerhouse on Tuesday confirmed plans for a super-PAC called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California dedicated to backing pro-AI candidates regardless of party affiliation. "As home to many of the world's leading AI companies, California's innovation economy has an outsized impact on America's economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness," a Meta spokesperson told AFP. "But Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk." According to Meta, state-level regulation of AI threatens to hamper development of the technology at a time when US tech firms are in a fierce innovation race with Chinese rivals. The tech industry is lobbying hard to avoid regulation of AI's development, and in July it narrowly failed to win a federal ban by US Congress that would have prevented states from passing or enforcing AI laws for as long as a decade. Meta pointed to the more than 50 AI-related bills that have been introduced this year in California alone, many of which could hinder advancement of the technology, the company claimed. One such law, which will be effective on January 1, requires developers of generative AI with large user bases to disclose summaries of training data, provide free AI detection tools, and ensure clear labeling of AI-generated content.

Meta to launch California super PAC to support pro-AI candidates

The group, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California - a 'super' PAC, will support candidates for state offices from either party who advocate AI innovation over stringent rules, the report said. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, potentially positioning the company among the state's top political spenders ahead of the 2026 governor race, Politico said. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

New Meta PAC backs candidates opposing strict AI rules

Led by policy VP Brian Rice, the PAC will back candidates critical of laws like SB 53, which proposed AI safety reporting requirements. Meta is initiating a super PAC aimed at backing California political candidates who support minimal artificial intelligence regulation according to Politico. This action aligns with a broader trend in Silicon Valley, where prominent figures are allocating significant funds to influence the AI regulatory landscape. The company will invest tens of millions of dollars in this new political action committee. The organization is named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California. Brian Rice, Meta's Vice President of public policy, will lead the PAC. Rice has voiced concerns that California's existing regulatory framework poses a risk to technological advancement. He stated that Sacramento's regulatory environment "could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk." Earlier this year, Meta's lobbying efforts focused on California State Senator Scott Wiener's SB-53 bill. This bill proposed requiring AI companies to disclose safety and security measures, in addition to issuing reports on safety-related incidents. Meta also played a role in preventing the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act last year. This was a bill that many expected to pass. Prior to this initiative, Meta has contributed to various down-ballot candidates from both Democratic and Republican parties. The creation of this PAC indicates an increased focus on shaping statewide elections, potentially including the 2026 gubernatorial election. Other Silicon Valley leaders, including Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Greg Brockman, have committed $100 million to a separate pro-AI super PAC.

Meta to Launch California Super PAC Backing Pro-AI Candidates, Politico Reports

(Reuters) -Meta is setting up a new California-focused political action committee (PAC) to back state-level candidates favoring lighter regulation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, Politico reported on Tuesday. The group, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California - a 'super' PAC, will support candidates for state offices from either party who advocate AI innovation over stringent rules, the report said. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, potentially positioning the company among the state's top political spenders ahead of the 2026 governor race, Politico said. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)

Meta to launch California super PAC backing pro-AI candidates - The Economic Times

Meta will launch a California-focused political action committee to support candidates favouring lighter AI regulation. Aiming to influence state policy ahead of the 2026 governor race, the PAC reflects Meta's push to protect innovation and business interests amid rising scrutiny, mirroring tactics used by Uber and Airbnb in Sacramento.Meta said on Tuesday it will launch a California-focused political action committee (PAC) to back state-level candidates favouring lighter regulation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence. The group, named "Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California," will support candidates for state offices from either party who advocate AI innovation over stringent rules, the company said. The Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, potentially positioning the company among the state's top political spenders ahead of the 2026 governor race. California will elect its next governor in November 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom's national profile has surged amid a series of confrontations with President Donald Trump, positioning him as a high-visibility Democratic figure. "The Governor takes a balanced approach to ensure that as the AI industry continues to grow, it does so with appropriate guardrails to protect the public," a spokesperson for the office of the California governor said in an emailed response. Meta's move to back candidates who favour AI-friendly policies aligns with its business interests, as the social media company is pouring billions to better compete in Silicon Valley's intensifying AI race and develop new cash flows. "Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk," said Brian Rice, Meta vice president of public policy. California has been among the most aggressive states in pursuing AI and social media regulation and state officials will shape rules on safety, transparency and consumer protection that could impact tech companies' products. Rice will head the PAC alongside fellow public policy VP Greg Maurer as principal officers, according to a company spokesperson. Companies such as Uber and Airbnb have used such campaign-focused, multi-million dollar strategies to build clout in Sacramento, according to Politico, which first reported the development. Venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman are among those helping launch and fund Leading the Future, a new super PAC network focused on AI, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.