Overview

• Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer is drafting legislation to impose a 10% levy on advertising revenues of major platforms like Alphabet and Meta based on Austria’s model.
• A digital ministry spokesperson cautioned the proposal awaits full government approval and must comply with EU law to shield consumers from extra charges.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to raise the levy during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington despite American objections.
• Industry body Bitkom warned that passing the levy onto customers could impede the digitalisation of public services and corporate transformation.
• Germany would join Britain, France and other EU states that have enacted similar taxes, posing fresh transatlantic trade tensions.