Germany’s Minister of Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has strongly defended his plans for a digital tax, asserting the need to address the influence of major technology companies. In interviews with RTL and ntv on Thursday, Weimer stated that these companies, which generate billions in revenue, should contribute billions in taxes.
The proposed tax would be set at ten percent. Weimer indicated that Germany might proceed with the initiative independently if necessary, citing the EU’s lack of progress on the matter over several years. He suggested a national approach, with the potential for later integration into a broader European solution.
The Minister confirmed that discussions are currently underway with representatives from the tech giants at the Chancellery. While the companies are welcome to present alternative proposals, Weimer emphasized that the ultimate goal is to modify what he described as “unfair monopolistic behavior”. The German government’s move signals a growing international debate surrounding taxation of digital services and the power of large tech corporations.