AI Lobbying Firm Linked to Controversial Right-Wing Activists

AI lobbying firm LobbyMatic linked to controversial right-wing activists: Politico reports that Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, known for their far-right activism and legal troubles, are allegedly running an AI-powered lobbying company under pseudonyms.

• LobbyMatic claims to offer an “AI automation platform for lobbyists” that can perform tasks such as monitoring congressional hearings and enhancing legislative research.
• The company’s leadership is not publicly listed on its official website, and it is registered in Delaware under a generic registered agent.
• When contacted for comment, LobbyMatic provided a video featuring a man resembling Jacob Wohl, who acknowledged a past in partisan politics without explicitly identifying himself or addressing the pseudonym allegations.

Evidence supporting Politico’s claims: The report relies on testimonies from four anonymous former employees and circumstantial evidence linking Wohl and Burkman to LobbyMatic’s operations.

• A former employee reportedly visited a house in Arlington, VA, with “Bill Sanders” that was later identified as a location where Wohl and Burkman had previously held press conferences.
• Some ex-employees claim to have heard “Jay Klein” referred to as “Jacob” within the company.
• Former staff members told Politico that videos of Wohl and Burkman matched the appearances of “Jay Klein” and “Bill Sanders.”
• One employee allegedly conducted a reverse image search of a surreptitiously taken photo, which matched Jacob Wohl.
• A call to Jack Burkman’s listed phone number asking for “Bill Sanders” initially received a response, but the call ended abruptly when the caller identified himself as a reporter.

Background on Wohl and Burkman: The pair have a history of controversial activities and legal issues related to their political stunts and disinformation campaigns.

• They have previously attempted to fabricate scandals and assault allegations against various public figures, including Robert Mueller, Pete Buttigieg, and Anthony Fauci.
• In 2020, Wohl and Burkman were charged in Michigan and Ohio for orchestrating a fraudulent robocalling scheme that targeted approximately 85,000 voters, discouraging them from going to the polls.
• The duo pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud in Ohio and received sentences in 2022.

LobbyMatic’s response to allegations: When contacted by The Verge, the company provided a link to a video posted on social media platform X by an account called @TheLobbyistGuy.

• The video features a man resembling Jacob Wohl, who acknowledges a past involvement in partisan politics “about half a decade ago.”
• Without directly addressing the pseudonym allegations, the speaker emphasizes that he has since redirected his energy towards new endeavors.
• The majority of the video focuses on promoting LobbyMatic’s software and its purported capabilities in the lobbying industry.

Implications for the AI and lobbying industries: The alleged involvement of controversial figures in an AI-powered lobbying firm raises questions about transparency and ethics in both sectors.

• This case highlights the potential for individuals with questionable pasts to rebrand themselves within the rapidly growing AI industry.
• It also underscores the importance of due diligence and background checks when engaging with new technology providers, particularly in sensitive areas like political lobbying.
• The incident may prompt calls for increased scrutiny and regulation of AI companies operating in the political sphere, to ensure transparency and prevent potential misuse of advanced technologies for disinformation or unethical lobbying practices.