Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups

Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by galkk on Friday May 30, 2025 @06:22AM (#44134680)

I really hate that political doublespeak, as in 2nd paragraph:

    Germany’s federal commissioner for media and culture, Wolfram Weimer, told Stern magazine on Thursday that the new government is drafting a digital levy on global internet platforms, although alternatives like a voluntary commitment by the affected tech companies to pay more tax in Germany are also still under consideration.

voluntary...

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by rf15 on Friday May 30, 2025 @06:25AM (#44134702)

people who see "Your money or your life" as a free choice scenario

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by 6stringmerc on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:15AM (#44134998)

In Texas the phrase has traditionally been “Plato o Plomo” which translates to “Silver or Lead” fyi

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by yard2010 on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:38AM (#44135166)

In spanish it's plata - silver. The word comes through latin from a greek word that says "flat", probably because silver sheets are flat.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by hoseyor on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:29AM (#44135113)

That sounds more like a Mexican cartel thing, you know, organized crime extortion and being in Spanish and all.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by saubeidl on Friday May 30, 2025 @06:37AM (#44134766)

It's voluntary the same way people work shitty jobs "voluntarily". If they don't, they'll starve, but they always have that option I suppose.

The beauty of the free market - either do what the capitalist class does or die, freely.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by loloquwowndueo on Friday May 30, 2025 @06:57AM (#44134870)

None of those big conpanies would die by paying more tax in Germany; so much so, that I bet they’d prefer to call the bluff and leave the country entirely rather than pay more taxes. The move then becomes “your government is evil and is forcing us to deprive you of our awesome service/product, call your elected representative”.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by saubeidl on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:03AM (#44134903)

I believe American Big Tech greatly overestimates their popularity in Europe, especially in Germany. This move would backfire dramatically.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by attendant3446 on Friday May 30, 2025 @11:37AM (#44137268)

However, WhatsApp is the default messaging app in Germany (second only to fax /s). Facebook is the default platform in Sweden. I think other EU countries also rely heavily on US big tech.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by likis on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:14AM (#44134991)

I think they would just pay the taxes but increase their prices so their bottom-line looks about the same. In the end it would be the consumers in Germany that paid the price.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by saubeidl on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:20AM (#44135043)

That assumes that demand would stay the same with price increases.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by yard2010 on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:29AM (#44135110)

The homeless have the freedom to sleep under the bridge.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by saubeidl on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:32AM (#44135129)

There's a beautiful German song that deals with the abusive use of the term "freedom": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Zj-S-OdZs

Here's a (somewhat clumsy, but still gets the point across) translation of the lyrics https://lyricstranslate.com/en/meine-freiheit-deine-freiheit...

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by pyrale on Friday May 30, 2025 @10:32AM (#44136617)

Law, in a concern for equality, prohibits the rich as well as the poor from sleeping under bridges, begging, or stealing bread.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by luckylion on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:02AM (#44134897)

It's voluntary the same way you can voluntarily pay the amount of money the state decides you owe for income tax.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by saubeidl on Friday May 30, 2025 @07:04AM (#44134907)

Except the state is your elected representation in a democracy. The market is just what moneyed interests want.

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Re:Germany eyes 10% digital tax on global tech groups by luckylion on Friday May 30, 2025 @06:40PM (#44140456)

That changes nothing about how "voluntary" that "voluntary commitment" is, that you can, at your own will, choose instead of paying the same amount in taxes.

If I point a gun at you and ask for your wallet, you can voluntarily give it to me, but that doesn't make it less of a robbery.

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