Germany weighs 10% tax on online platforms like Google (www.reuters.com)

submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

BERLIN, May 29 (Reuters) - Germany is considering a 10% tax on large online platforms like Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and Meta's Facebook (META.O), opens new tab, its new minister of state for culture told magazine Stern, in a move likely to heighten trade tensions with the Trump administration.

Culture Minister of State Wolfram Weimer said officials were drafting a legislative proposal while also seeking talks with platform operators that he accused of "cunning tax evasion" to explore alternative solutions like voluntary contributions.

"These corporations do billions in business in Germany with extremely high profit margins and benefit enormously from the country’s media and cultural output as well as its infrastructure — but they pay hardly any taxes, invest too little, and give far too little back to society," he told Stern in an interview published on Thursday.

Alphabet and Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

Yes, I was thinking... How much tax on Google will force it to get out? I'd say it's definitely a lot more money.

Also, what's interesting is that... If Google got kicked out... Nothing would happen. There's libre software for everything Google does.

this post was submitted on 30 May 2025

81 points (98.8% liked)

Technology

38771 readers

235 users here now

A nice place to discuss rumors, happenings, innovations, and challenges in the technology sphere. We also welcome discussions on the intersections of technology and society. If it’s technological news or discussion of technology, it probably belongs here.

Remember the overriding ethos on Beehaw: Be(e) Nice. Each user you encounter here is a person, and should be treated with kindness (even if they’re wrong, or use a Linux distro you don’t like). Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Subcommunities on Beehaw:

This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]