What you need to know
- The Internet Association is a trade group responsible for Big Tech lobbying efforts.
- Microsoft has been a member of the association for years and is now formally departing.
- Uber is also leaving.
The Internet Association, an ally to Microsoft's lobbying goals for many years, is now losing the tech giant as a member. The group, founded in 2012, still has Google, Amazon, and Meta/Facebook on the party roster, but Microsoft and Uber are no small loss.
The news comes from Axios, which reported that the Windows 11 maker is done with IA for the time being.
The Internet Association's Christina Martin, its global communications and public affairs senior vice president, kept her comments on the matter brief. "It is always unfortunate to lose a member, but business decisions related to time and resources are to be respected," she said. She added that IA hopes Microsoft and Uber will rejoin at some point.
Meanwhile, Microsoft kept its comments even lighter. "We advocate for public policies that support our business goals," a Microsoft spokesperson told Axios. "As our business needs evolve, we periodically review trade association memberships to ensure alignment with our policy agenda."
Not long ago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared on Bloomberg Television. During his time there, he was asked if Microsoft's lobbying efforts were how it avoided the increasing legal scrutiny haunting Big Tech companies. He provided a simple explanation: That Microsoft was "on the right side of history."
The unspoken implication there may have been that Microsoft did not need extensive lobbying activity to maintain its success. And, based on today's news, it appears such an implication may indeed be representative of a portion of the situation. However, the Internet Association isn't the only egg in Microsoft's basket, so ditching it doesn't mean Redmond is entirely on its own.
