• Alphabet Inc. and Apple were also among the top spenders in lobbying in 2020, the analysis revealed.
• The expenditures are only part of the efforts by the tech giants to earn goodwill in Washington.
• Facebook said that it will continue to voice its support for new rules that "address today's realities online."

Facebook and Amazon were the biggest spenders on lobbying in 2020, outspending companies such as AT&T and Boeing, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.

The analysis looks into reports filed by US companies with Congress under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, a federal law that requires companies to disclose such expenditures.

Facebook, the social media giant, spent around $20 million in 2020, an 18% increase from the prior year, while Amazon spent around $18 million, up 11% from 2019, the analysis showed.

The lobbying expenditures come as Democrats take control of both houses of Congress. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for increased regulation of the internet, social media platforms, and e-commerce.

Facebook told the Journal its amenable to new legislation. "We've been clear that the internet needs updated regulations, which is why we'll continue voicing our support for new rules that address today's realities online," a spokesman said./ BI