Media reports Meta to spend millions supporting pro-AI candidates

(MENAFN) Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to launch a California-based super PAC aimed at supporting state-level political candidates who advocate for relaxed regulations on artificial intelligence. The political action committee, called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California, will back both Democratic and Republican candidates who prioritize technological innovation over tighter oversight.

According to Politico, Meta plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, positioning it as a major political player in California ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election. This initiative reflects Meta’s broader strategy to preserve California’s leadership in tech development amid growing concerns that stricter laws could hinder AI advancement.

Brian Rice, Meta’s Vice President of Public Policy, who will co-lead the PAC with fellow policy executive Greg Maurer, emphasized that overly aggressive regulation from Sacramento could jeopardize California’s edge in AI. A company spokesperson confirmed their roles as the group’s principal officers.

California has been leading the charge in regulating AI and social media, with potential new rules focused on transparency, safety, and consumer protection. In response, Meta spent over $518,000 on lobbying earlier this year to oppose pending AI safety legislation targeting large AI models.

Meta’s move mirrors similar strategies by other tech firms, like Uber and Airbnb, that have previously used well-funded political campaigns to shape policy outcomes in the state. The tech industry’s political engagement is growing rapidly, with initiatives like Leading the Future—backed by venture firm Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman—committing over $100 million to promote favorable AI policies.

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