The Role of AI in Lobbying: Implications for Social Media, Policymaker Access, and Representation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized opportunities for campaigning and lobbying, yet little is known about its adoption by interest groups and the potential impact of such uses. This paper addresses this gap by leveraging large-scale survey data from interest groups across ten countries, linked to data on their social media activities (including Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Bluesky) and offline lobbying efforts. First, it examines whether the use of AI tools is associated with the volume and content of social media activities. Using content analysis powered by large language models (LLMs), the study investigates whether AI enables interest groups to create more personalized and persuasive online lobbying content and whether these campaigns generate greater public engagement and outreach. Second, it explores whether AI-empowered interest groups gain better access to policymakers compared to similar groups that do not use AI tools. Ministerial meeting data from various countries is analyzed to assess the intensity and diversity of policymaker access. Finally, the paper examines whether the relationship between AI usage and social media or offline lobbying varies based on the resources and types of interest groups using these tools. By addressing these questions, this study offers the first comprehensive analysis of how AI is transforming both online and offline advocacy, with important implications for political representation and the dynamics of advocacy in contemporary politics.