Germany Considers Imposing a 10% Tax on Digital Platforms

Germany is considering imposing a 10% tax on large digital platforms such as Google and Facebook, German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said, a move likely to exacerbate trade tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The minister said in press statements that his ministry is also seeking talks with online platform operators, accusing them of tax evasion through voluntary contributions.

Weimer revealed that his ministry is working on a legislative proposal and has begun discussions with platform operators, whom he accused of “cunning tax evasion” and suggested alternative solutions such as voluntary contributions. In an interview with Stern magazine, he criticized these companies for generating billions in profits in Germany, profiting from the country’s media, cultural production, and infrastructure, yet paying minimal taxes and contributing little to society. The minister explained, “These companies run billions of dollars in businesses in Germany with extremely high profit margins, and benefit significantly from the country’s media and cultural production, as well as its infrastructure, yet pay little or no taxes,” according to Reuters. Weimer also accused major digital platforms of building monopolistic business entities that not only restrict competition but also pose a threat to freedom of expression in the country by concentrating media influence in a specific direction.