Overview
- A draft bill spearheaded by Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer would impose a 10% levy on advertising revenues of platforms such as Google and Meta.
- The proposal follows Austria’s 2020 digital tax model, which applies a 5% levy without significantly raising consumer prices.
- It includes voluntary self-commitments by tech firms as an interim measure before mandatory contributions take effect.
- SPD co-leader Saskia Esken and Green lawmakers back directing revenues toward independent and democratically governed media.
- Officials hope the national measure will invigorate stalled EU-level negotiations on digital taxation.