Google and Facebook will pay a new tax? Germany is preparing a revolution

The German government is preparing a bill that assumes the introduction of a 10 % tax on digital platforms using the content published by the media. According to the website forhandlu.pl, citing Politico, the new regulations are to cover primarily global technological giants, such as Alphabet (owner of Google) and Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram). The German Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer argues that the proposed tax rate is moderate and justified, taking into account the scale of the activities of these companies and their impact on the media market.

Digital platform tax – the risk of conflict with the USA

As the website notes, the proposal of a new tax can, however, lead to tensions in relations between Berlin and Washington. Politico warns that the introduction of fees can be picked up by the US administration as a retaliation for earlier duties that the American government has imposed on products from the European Union. American trade restrictions were particularly severe for Germany, which are an exports, which only deepened the ongoing economic problems of the country. The new tax could therefore exacerbate existing commercial tensions between two economic powers.

Digital platform tax – a compromise and openness to dialogue

Despite the controversy, the German government declares their readiness to talk with representatives of the technology industry. Minister Weimer pointed out that he invited Google management and other important players to talk to the Chancellor’s Office to consider possible solutions together.

– First of all, I invited Google management and important industry representatives to the Chancellor’s Office for talks to examine alternatives, such as voluntary commitments – said Wolfram Weimer, Minister of Culture and a member of the center -right party of the CDU of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding that the bill is prepared at the same time.