The German government is exploring measures to address the dominant role of Google in information distribution, aiming to subject the US tech giant to German press law and potentially impose a special levy. Wolfram Weimer, the Minister of State for Culture, expressed concern over Google’s influence on the interpretation of information, stating that the country cannot allow “Big-Tech platforms to gain control over interpretation without democratic oversight.
Weimer challenged Google’s assertion that it is not a media company and therefore not subject to media and press law. He argued that Google’s search capabilities effectively function as a medium and necessitate responsibility for its actions. The Minister proposed extending German press law and its associated liability to Google.
Illustrating his point, Weimer cited an example of how Google Maps altered global map designations seemingly in response to a request, highlighting the company’s power over global definitions. He warned of a dangerous convergence between political and media influence if left unchecked.
The government is considering a multi-faceted approach to curtail Google’s dominance, encompassing antitrust measures, regulatory interventions and taxation. Weimer indicated a preference for a special levy as an alternative to a broader digital tax already implemented in Austria, with plans to present a policy paper outlining specific proposals in the autumn. He anticipates that Germany’s actions could spur similar measures in other European nations.