Facebook has spent nearly $3.99m on lobbying in 2012, up 196% over 2011. This was mainly due to clashes with US policy makers on consumer privacy, data collection and immigration.
During the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2012, the social networking company spent $1.4m, which was more than it spent for the whole 2011.
The rise in spending is also part of company’s effort to proactively avoid conflicts by making lawmakers know its projects prior to the advocates.
Facebook said in a statement: "Our presence and growth in Washington reflect our commitment to explaining how our service works, the actions we take to protect the billion plus people who use our service, the importance of preserving an open internet, and the value of innovation to our economy.
Other internet giants including Google and Microsoft joined Facebook in its lobbying efforts.
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