Overview

• Weimer’s remarks at the Frankfurter Buchmesse opening accused American and Chinese AI firms of training on creative works without licenses and called it “digital colonialism.”
• Richard Grenell, a senior adviser to President Trump and former U.S. ambassador to Germany, posted on X that the comments constitute a bid to shut the U.S. digital industry out of Europe.
• The speech described AI companies as engaging in an “organized raid” and “intellectual vampirism,” citing content drawn from texts, images, music and films.
• German media report no immediate response from Weimer to Grenell’s criticism, even as the exchange draws international attention and diplomatic friction.
• The Culture Ministry is expected to produce a draft digital tax on large tech firms during this legislative period, and Trump recently warned Europe of retaliatory tariffs if such measures proceed.