Facebook Files Paperwork to Set Up Political Action Committee

Palo Alto, Calif. – Facebook is looking to help its friends reach high places by setting up a political action committee (PAC) to fund candidates in 2012, ABC News reported Tuesday.

The social networking giant, which has 800 million users, filed the PAC paperwork this week.

The PAC "will give our employees a way to make their voice heard in the political process by supporting candidates who share our goals of promoting the value of innovation to our economy while giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected," Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes told The Washington Post.

The move follows PACs being set up by a number of other tech giants, including Google and Microsoft.

Google employees have donated $570,000 to their PAC this year, the Post reported, with CEO Larry Page contributing the maximum $5,000 amount to the fund.

Microsoft employees have contributed $722,000 to the company's PAC.

Tech companies have also hosted a number of political events recently, strengthening their ties to Washington.

Last week's FOX News Republican presidential debate was co-sponsored by Google and on Monday Facebook hosted a town hall-style meeting with three House Republican leaders.

LinkedIn also hosted a town hall event with President Barack Obama on Monday.