Overview
- Weimer told RND he will present an Eckpunktepapier this autumn and now favors a special levy rather than a tax.
- The plan would place Google under German press-law liability, with Weimer arguing that search and AI overviews function as a medium.
- He called for coordinated antitrust, regulatory and tax action against Google's dominance and said monopolies may need to be "broken up."
- The proposed charge would also cover other large platforms such as Meta, with revenues intended to strengthen Germany's media sector.
- Weimer acknowledged potential U.S. retaliation through tariffs and said he might have to yield, while some government figures have expressed reservations despite his claim of broad backing.