How tech companies directly infiltrated Latin American regulators

“What should we do about artificial intelligence as congress members?” In a video published on the Instagram profile, he asks Diego Caedo, a young Colombian congress member. Pablo Nieto, who stands with him, another Colombian, çüm Create frames that introduce AI ”and ın listen to all stakeholders”.

There was nothing comfortable about the stock market – not the environment, not speakers, and certainly not said.

Both men are part of a wider network of influence in which large technology companies such as Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft shaped public policy in Latin America. Other players in this silent, high -betting game include MPs reflecting technology -friendly arguments, good paid lobbyists forcing corporate narratives, and former authorities who frame their private interests as public goodness issues.

When technology companies prefer not to put their lobby in the light of spotlights, they turn to intermediaries: legal firms, industrial associations and policy groups. These organizations host international conferences, meet regularly with public officials, produce studies designed to “enlighten ve and offer policy proposals under the national development flag.

Andrés Hernández, General Manager of Metorcarencia Por Colombia, explains to this reporting alliance, their strategies are simple: “Access to decision -makers and any mechanism that enables them to affect decisions”.

None of this is illegal – and none of them are new. In many ways, it reflects the tactics of other powerful multinational companies such as mining, tobacco or pharmaceutical companies.

However, there is a very important difference. Where these companies can affect a single sector, Big Tech placed themselves in almost every aspect of modern life. Avoiding conscious efforts to avoid talking to the family and planning appointments, receiving directions, organizing virtual meetings or reading news, and technology platforms requires a conscious effort. And the effects of artificial intelligence touch everything we do.

The fact that politics, human rights, social prosperity, public health, mental health, economy, economy, and these companies are almost indispensable for the function of today’s life will lead to thinking that regulation is very important for any country.

However, as shown in this investigation – Big Tech’s invisible handManaged by Brazil output Agência pública And Centro Latinoamericano de researcher periodística (Clip) with 15 other organizations from 13 countries Crirase – It wasn’t easy to regulate technology giants. They have bottomless pockets to fight every war. The algorithms are hiding behind commercial confidentiality and sophistication is needed to regulate them without shifting to the censorship. And although they resist any local rule that can weaken global business models.

A database built collectively from public online information, demands of freedom of information, negotiations with dozens of sources in governments, congresses and technology companies, documented the 2,977 concrete action action in ten countries and the European Union, most of them included technology companies, most of which are direct industries of technology companies between 2019 and June 2025. From legislative bodies, regulators and ministers to the managers of public schools and hospitals, 2,508 public officials.

This investigation also found that the need to prevent the unwanted effects of large technology was so large that only eleven countries and in the European Union, governments, legislators or citizens have made at least 801 invoices since 2019. These initiatives found that children and young people came together, with sensitivity, damage, prevent accounts that question the sensitivity, and that they were trying to prevent sensitivity. The damaging use of artificial intelligence, as well as other reasons.

Our report also found 315 legal lawsuits under conflicts with technology companies in only four countries that have been recorded since 2022. These cases extend from a citizen’s complaint about the abuse of a video or image to the claims of not regulating harmful content or complying with the laws of privacy. Technology companies have sued their own name for their opposition to governments against sanctions or rules that restrict their operations.

This reporting alliance sent detailed surveys to major technology companies about lobbying activities in many countries. Companies responded with general expressions that accept their interactions with policy makers on their products and businesses and claim that these interactions are in accordance with all relevant ethical and regulatory guidelines. Find a document that details companies answers here.

In this collaborative, cross -border investigation, we explain in detail how several lobbying operations emerged in Latin America by some companies that shape people’s daily life the most. Where did the wars fought? Who creates the lobbying cadres in some countries and affects the agents?

Colombian Congress Member Cainedo interviewed the above -mentioned citizen Nieto, was called Digiecon 2025. It took place in April of this year in Mexico and brought together managers from Latin America, Tiktok, Meta, Rappi, Rappi, and others with executives “Digital and Economics”, “Digital and Economic Development”.

According to them, the Industrial Group Latin American Internet Association (AlaI), representing technology companies inviting Caedo. CUESTİóN PúBlicaColombia output, which is part of this alliance.

Digiecon 2025, among the congress members, several Brazilian deputies, four Argentine legislators, Caikedo, as well as four additional Colombian legislators, three Chilean lawmakers and Guatemala, Costa Rica and others from Peru. This reporting alliance was able to reconstruct the list of participants using the photos of the event and other records on social media. This and additional public officials from other Latin American countries also participated.

We found that some of these guests have central figures in the Digital Policy Discussions in the Legislative bodies, either forcing bills and advance the interests of technology companies in their parliaments. The photograph of the event becomes a strong metaphor of how the touches of technology giants extend on the continent.

Representative Caedo, for example, in September 2024 temporary Just as another committee is preparing to do the same thing, the commission of the investigation of the invoices waiting for artificial intelligence. Although the movement is officially targeted, in accordance with While combining various regulatory initiatives to the Congress, he could not achieve this goal.

Colombian Senator Alirio Uribu CUESTİóN PúBlica and the clip of the AI ​​commission that “created to prevent all projects” (this alliance members).

“What they did was to get all the bills, to review, and then to present articles to us.” Since then, only one AI regulation has been accepted by the Colombia Legislative Assembly: a measure that increases fraud penalties when artificial intelligence tools are used to do so.

Caedo did not answer questions about his role in the AI ​​invoices process at the Colombia Congress or his video with Nieto.

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Big Tech’s invisible hand A collaborative journalism investigation directed by the Brazilian news organization Agência pública And Centro Latinoamericano de researcher periodística (Clip)with Crirase (Australia), CUESTİóN PúBlica (Colombia), Daily Maverick (South Africa), Al -diario ar (Argentina), Alti (Paraguay), Facultum (El Salvador), ICL (Brazil), Researcher Journalism Foundation – IJF (Canada), Lab (Chile), Lighthouse reports (International), N+focus (Mexican), Núcleo (Brazil), Premiums (Ecuador), Technology Policy Press (USA) and Tempo (Indonesia). Unlimited reporters And law team Hand Veinte supported the project and La Fábrica Meméicica Designed a visual identity.

Description: News Media as part of the bargaining code, Private Media (Cikey’s parent company) received funds from the middle of 2021 from Meta and Google. Meta terminated its agreements with all publishers in 2024. Private media continues to receive funds from Google as part of the code.