ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DIGITAL LOBBYING: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGULATORY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS IN THE EU AND THE USA

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of the regulatory and legal frameworks governing artificial intelligence in digital lobbying within the European Union and the United States. As emerging technologies reshape interest representation, traditional lobbying practices increasingly rely on AI-driven data analytics, automated advocacy tools, and generative algorithms to influence public policy. The study examines how distinct legislative approaches – characterised by the EU’s rights-centric, stringent enforcement via the Artificial Intelligence Act and Transparency Register, versus the US’s market-oriented governance model shaped by the Lobbying Disclosure Act and federal-state disparities – address the transparency and ethical challenges of algorithmic lobbying.

Employing comparative legal and empirical methodologies, this research evaluates the efficacy of existing regulatory mechanisms in mitigating risks related to democratic manipulation, corporate undue influence, and algorithmic opacity. The findings indicate that while the EU prioritises comprehensive compliance and institutional accountability, the US regulatory landscape remains fragmented, focusing primarily on disclosure rather than technological restriction. Ultimately, the paper contributes to the academic discourse on digital governance by highlighting the regulatory gaps and policy adaptations necessary to ensure democratic integrity in the age of automated interest intermediation.