Latest news with #WolframWeimer
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Germany, France back expanding joint TV channel
HighlightsBerlin and Paris plan to expand the Arte television channel into a major European platform to combat disinformation from rival powers. The long-term goal of Arte executives is to transform the channel into a multilingual streaming service that includes news, films, and series. German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer emphasized the need for Europe to amplify its voice of freedom in response to Russian and Chinese disinformation efforts. Berlin and Paris want to expand the TV channel Arte into a major European platform amid concerns about rival powers spreading disinformation, Germany's culture minister said Wednesday. The publicly funded French and German language channel is known for covering cultural events and producing highbrow dramas. The long-term goal is to expand it into a streaming service in numerous languages that reaches new audiences, with offerings ranging from news to films and series, according to Arte executives. Russian and Chinese efforts to spread disinformation, combined with the US administration's moves to gut government-funded international media, meant that Europe must "make its voice of freedom heard more loudly in the world," German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said. During discussions at a meeting of European culture ministers in Paris on Wednesday, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the platform could contribute to countering foreign influence and populist tendencies. The idea of expanding the channel has been mooted for some time, and French President Emmanuel Macron backed the idea during a state visit to Germany last year.
eNCA
12-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Germany, France back expanding joint TV channel
BERLIN - Berlin and Paris want to expand the TV channel Arte into a major European platform amid concerns about rival powers spreading disinformation, Germany's culture minister said. The publicly funded French and German language channel is known for covering cultural events and producing highbrow dramas. The long-term goal is to expand it into a streaming service in numerous languages that reaches new audiences, with offerings ranging from news to films and series, according to Arte executives. Russian and Chinese efforts to spread disinformation, combined with the US administration's moves to gut government-funded international media, meant that Europe must "make its voice of freedom heard more loudly in the world," German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said. During discussions at a meeting of European culture ministers in Paris on Wednesday, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the platform could contribute to countering foreign influence and populist tendencies. The idea of expanding the channel has been mooted for some time, and French President Emmanuel Macron backed the idea during a state visit to Germany last year.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany Considers 10% Digital Tax On Tech Giants Alphabet, Meta: Report
In a move that could escalate trade tensions with the U.S., Germany is reportedly contemplating imposing a 10% tax on major online platforms, including Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META). What Happened: Wolfram Weimer, the new German Minister of State for Culture, disclosed this proposal in an interview with Stern magazine. This revelation comes before Chancellor Friedrich Merz's anticipated visit to Washington, although no official confirmation has been provided yet, reported Reuters. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — President Donald Trump has previously expressed his disapproval of foreign governments taxing American companies, pledging not to let them 'appropriate America's tax base for their own benefit.' Weimer accused big online platforms like Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. of 'cunning tax evasion.' He suggested that these companies, which generate billions in profits in Germany, contribute minimally to the country's tax base and society. Weimer also criticized the monopolistic tendencies of these digital platforms, arguing that they pose a threat to freedom of It Matters: This proposal comes amid growing international scrutiny of tech giants. The Trump administration has been critical of Europe's digital regulations, asserting that they pose a risk to free speech and American commercial interests. Furthermore, in April, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the EU is preparing retaliatory measures that could include levies on digital advertising revenues from U.S. tech companies like Meta and Alphabet Inc. This was followed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging President Trump to respond aggressively to these threats. If the German government proceeds with this tax, it would join Britain, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, India, Austria, and Canada, which have imposed similar taxes on digital service providers. The shares of Alphabet fell 0.24% to close at $172.96 on Thursday, meanwhile Meta rose 0.23% to $645.05. Read Next: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Invest before it's too late. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.30/share! Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Send To MSN: Send to MSN Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Germany Considers 10% Digital Tax On Tech Giants Alphabet, Meta: Report originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Gulf Today
31-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Germany plans to tax Google, Facebook
Germany's Culture Ministry is planning to bring a law to tax the American online giants like Alphabet of Google and Meta of Facebook. The rate of taxation is to be 10 per cent. The grounds on which taxation is to be imposed are interesting and even new. German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer told the magazine, Stern, '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 the country.' There is more than an element of truth in Weimer's statement. Google and Facebook thrive much from the media content that populates their platforms, which is one of the reasons that millions of Net users throng them, to get the news in a jiffy as it were. Both Google and Facebook do not create an iota of their own content. They thrive on what they take from others, either directly or through their own users. Australia overcame the problem by giving in to the demand of newspapers and other old media, that Google should pay them for using their content. Weimer is stating the fact that the online platforms are using cultural output of the country – whether it be music, films, art – and they do not do anything to sustain the cultural events. Similarly, the Internet penetration in the country and the infrastructure that sustains it is what enables millions of Germans to use Google and Facebook, and it is on the large number of users that these online companies earn their revenues. It is but reasonable that the online companies should be made to pay taxes of some kind. Weimer has even suggested voluntary contribution on the part of Google and Facebook. But this may be impracticable. No company will be willing to make voluntary contribution in lieu of taxes. The American online platforms have an advantage over national players because they have worldwide footprint because of the investments they made in the search engines reaching the ends of the globe as it were. They are indeed reaping benefits from it. But do they have an obligation to the regions and countries in which they operate? Google and Facebook can argue that they have built the cyber bridges to connect the different places, and they are allowing a free use of it. The owners of these platforms would not let these sites remain free if they were not earning enough revenue in billions of dollars. If they did not make money, they would have imposed some user-charges from the thousands of millions who use them around the globe. They can say that they have boosted other businesses through the space they have opened up for other businesses. These arguments do not however discredit the demand for tax payments from national governments. That these online payers use national airwaves is a fact. It can be argued that it is the telecom companies in these countries which have the right to charge these companies. But the search engines with enormous Cloud or memory power which sustain these platforms do cost enough money, but the revenue generated by advertisers outstrips the investment and costs of maintenance. National governments have a legitimate right to demand tax from the online platforms because they operate within the sovereign territory of a country. Facebook and the Google do not have the solidity of an iPhone, but they are at the same time cyber-products. They can be treated as taxable products or services. The rate of taxation should remain flexible enough so that the thriving business of connecting people is not affected or dampened.
Reuters
30-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German digital ministry treads cautiously over online platform levy
BERLIN, May 30 (Reuters) - Germany's new digital ministry said any levy on online platforms would have to be internationally coordinated and not result in higher prices for end consumers, in a sign on Friday of possible divisions within government over plans for such a tax. The Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer had said in an interview published on Thursday that officials were working on a levy which would hit platforms such as Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and Meta's Facebook (META.O), opens new tab. A levy of 10% would be reasonable, he said - without specifying if this were a tax on revenue or profit. Germany's ruling parties agreed earlier this year to consider the introduction of a digital services levy, but this was not on the list of projects the coalition wants to prioritise. Weimer's proposal had not yet been agreed upon by the government, officials had said. "The decisive factors in evaluating such a levy are that it is designed in a targeted manner, is internationally coordinated and compatible with EU law, that any potential revenue benefits Germany as a hub for innovation, and that ultimately no higher prices are passed on to end consumers," a spokesperson for the digital ministry said. The proposal comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to travel to Washington soon to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, although a trip has not yet been officially announced. Trump has in the past said he will not allow foreign governments to "appropriate America's tax base for their own benefit". Industry association Bitkom warned that the levy could lead to price increases that would impact businesses, public administrations, and consumers. "These price increases will hinder and slow down the urgently needed acceleration of the digitalization of public services and the digital transformation of companies," said Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst. "What we need is not more, but fewer financial burdens on digital goods and services."
