Tech companies' access to UK ministers dwarfs that of child safety groups

"Tech companies have been meeting government ministers at a rate of more than once per working day, enjoying high-level political access that dwarfs that of child safety and copyright campaigners, who called the pattern shocking and disturbing. Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Elon Musk's X, whose Grok AI image generator has sparked outrage with its sexualised images of women and children, were among the US tech companies holding hundreds of meetings with people at the heart of government, a Guardian investigation has found."

"Google, the $4tn California company, had the greatest access, with more than 100 ministerial meetings, according to an analysis of meeting records for the two years to October 2025, which campaigners said showed the tech industry's capture of government. The industry lobbying group Tech UK met ministers at the rate of more than once every eight working days. X attended 13 meetings, a small proportion of the overall number,"

"The government defended its position, saying regular engagement with technology companies is vital to delivering economic growth and transforming public services. Campaigners said the government should stop bending the knee to US big tech companies and that the figures revealed an incredible power imbalance when it came to protecting children online. There has been growing controversy over X's Grok AI tool, and a resurgence in the campaign for the government to follow Australia and ban social media for under-16"

Major US tech companies, including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and X, held hundreds of ministerial meetings with government ministers over a two-year period to October 2025. Google recorded the most access with more than 100 ministerial meetings. The industry lobbying group Tech UK met ministers more than once every eight working days. X attended 13 meetings, exceeding the frequency of child-safety groups such as the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation. Campaigners called the pattern shocking and said it revealed an incredible power imbalance in efforts to protect children online. The government defended regular engagement as vital for economic growth and public-service transformation.

Read at www.theguardian.com