Английская Википедия:American Edge
Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Short description American Edge is a U.S. political advocacy group that lobbies for the technology industry. It has been characterized as a front organization and a dark money group.
Its primary activities include advertising and paid Op-Ed campaigns, both of which have been called misleading.
History and mission
The group was formed in December 2019 by Facebook and other technology organizations to promote the interests of the technology interest through advertising and lobbying; according to The Washington Post its purpose is "to convince policymakers that Silicon Valley is essential to the U.S. economy and the future of free speech".[1] It funds advertising campaigns and academic research.[1][2]
The organization was formed during a period of increased scrutiny of technology giants by U.S. lawmakers of technology giants amid concerns over antitrust, privacy, security, and content moderation issues.[1] According to the Washington Post the intent was to "create the appearance of opposition by grass-roots groups to antitrust regulation".[3] According to the Benton Foundation it is to "to burnish the image of US tech companies as they face intensifying regulatory scrutiny".[4]
In June 2020, ten advocacy groups, including Center for Humane Technology, End Citizens United, Let America Vote, MapLight, Public Citizen, and the National Association of Social Workers called on Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, to shut the organization down.[5] The organization has been characterized as a front group[5][6][7][8] and a dark money group.[9][4]
Organizational structure and affiliations
The organization was incorporated as a non-profit in Virginia and in April 2020 registered a connected foundation.[1] The Washington Post said the organizational structure "allows it to navigate a thicket of tax laws in such a way that it can raise money, and blitz the airwaves with ads, without the obligation of disclosing all of its donors."[1]
The group is part of a "supportive coalition" that includes Bear Hill Advisors, the Center for Individual Freedom, NetChoice, the Connected Commerce Council, the National Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Small Business Association.[2][9]
Funding
Facebook was a major donor early on, donating $4 million between late 2019 and early 2020 and another $34 million between late 2020 and early 2021.[2] According to technology industry watchdog group Tech Transparency Project, Facebook was possibly the group's "sole funder".[2]
Spending and impact
The group launched advertising campaigns addressing antitrust in the technology industry in 2020, continuing into 2021.[2] It spent $5 million on advertising in 2020 and $10 million in 2021.[2] According to CNBC, the House and Senate were at the time of the ad campaigns considering antitrust, data privacy, and other reform measures which would affect online technology platforms, almost none of which ultimately made it to a vote in either legislative body.[2] According to the Wall Street Journal, spending by groups supporting the legislation over the same period was under $200,000.[10]
Brookings Institution characterized the ads as "misleading" and "emotional but fact-free", describing one ad featuring a small business owner saying, “I don’t understand why some in Congress want to take away the technology we use every day".[11] Governing magazine called the ads "among the most cynical" of those created at the time by various tech-industry lobbying groups.[12]
The group also paid for the placement of Op-Ed columns in local newspapers throughout the country signed by representatives of local business groups; according to the Washington Post the objective was to create the impression of a grass-roots reaction to the proposed legislation.[3]
Notable people
Multiple former politicians and government employees have joined the organization as advisors or board members.
- Chris Carney[1]
- Saxby Chambliss[13]
- Kent Conrad[14]
- Joseph Dunford[14]
- Heidi Heitkamp[2][9]
- Susana Martinez[1]
- Michael Morell[14]
- Loretta Sanchez[15]
- Bradley Smith[1]
- Frances Townsend[14]
- Greg Walden[2][9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 1,7 Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 2,8 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 3,0 3,1 Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ 4,0 4,1 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 5,0 5,1 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 9,0 9,1 9,2 9,3 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 14,0 14,1 14,2 14,3 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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