Tech companies infiltrate politics with fake associations

Interest groups are not uncommon in politics. But the “Allied for Startups” association stands out. Because behind it are tech companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple who want to deceive politicians, warns the LobbyControl initiative.

The name of the initiative “Allied for Startups” initially suggests an interest group for young companies. But how LobbyControl reported, there is something else behind it.

What is Allied for Startups?

The alleged startup association claims to represent young European companies. However, behind this are companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple, among others.

In mid-October 2024, the supposed startup initiative invited people to its annual conference. A “VIP Policy Dinner” also took place, to which members of the European Parliament were invited, among others.

The speaker was loud LobbyControl Aura Salla was also there. She was formerly Meta's chief lobbyist and now sits in the EU Parliament.

What connections do Google, Amazon and Co. have?

A lobbying strategy document from Google became public back in 2020. It states that the “Allied for Startups” initiative represents Google’s interests in Brussels politics. Among other things, it was explicitly about the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.

But loud LobbyControl There are other direct connections between employees of the interest group and Amazon and Google. Accordingly, an advisor to the initiative also works for Amazon and Google through his lobbying agency Leading Edge Global Communications.

Another Google lobbyist also worked for the search engine company and the supposed startup representative for years. Between 2020 and 2023 he worked for both Google and the interest group.

„Allied for Startups“: LobbyControl issues warning to MPs

LobbyControl sees interest representation as a “label fraud”. Amazon, Microsoft and Co. would take advantage of the “startup image” to promote their interests to members of the European Parliament.

The initiative's annual conference was also explicitly designed for this. Since it was not clear from the announcement who was behind the association LobbyControl warned MPs about the event. The association therefore calls for the actors behind such initiatives to be disclosed:

It is problematic how Google, Amazon & Co are trying to deceive politicians with initiatives like Allied for Startups with fraudulent labels.

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