eBay ditches ALEC

The tech giant joins Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Yelp

Published December 19, 2014 2:30PM (EST)

  (<a href='url to photographer'>360b</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>)
(360b via Shutterstock)

On Thursday, eBay announced that it would cut ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Koch brothers-backed lobbying group known for its rejection of climate science.

"After our annual review of eBay Inc's memberships in trade associations and third party organizations we've decided not to renew our membership with American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)," said a spokesperson for the tech giant.

Reuters' Deepa Seetharaman reports:

Critics fault ALEC, a coalition of state lawmakers and companies, for promoting measures to deny the existence of climate change, defund public services, oppose Internet neutrality and limit workers' protections.

In September, Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, said his company wanted out because ALEC was "literally lying" about climate change. Yahoo Inc, Facebook Inc and Yelp Inc left ALEC soon after.

Earlier this month, Salon's Lindsay Abrams reported the organization's latest venture: completely abolishing the EPA. ALEC will also establish model policies undermining EPA mandates that states can choose to adopt.

In 2011, the Center for Media and Democracy launched its ALEC Exposed website. Since then, over 80 companies have parted ways with the group.


By Joanna Rothkopf

MORE FROM Joanna Rothkopf


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Alec Climate Change Ebay Koch Brothers Lobbying Science