Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer (independent) wants to launch plans for a digital levy for internet companies before the summer break. “The Federal Council decided with a two-thirds majority that this tax should be introduced to specifically support good journalism,” said Weimer Augsburg General. He is confident that there is a majority in favor of it in the Bundestag.
In the next few weeks, the coalition will discuss the digital levy, said Weimer. “We have a clear majority in the Bundestag – from the Greens to the CDU.”
Weimer wants to strengthen classic journalism with the digital levy. The model is Austria, where a digital tax has been in effect since 2020, which internet giants such as Google, Amazon, Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and TikTok have to pay. Unlike in Austria according to Weimer’s ideas in Germany a levy should be introduced, the proceeds of which will specifically benefit the purpose of media promotion.
»Local media are trusted media«
In the coalition agreement, the CDU, CSU and SPD agreed to examine the introduction of the tax. However, CSU boss Markus Söder has so far rejected it.
“The concentration process towards Big Tech, the platforms, Google and Co. means that our traditional journalism is coming under dramatic economic pressure because advertising money, attention and interpretive sovereignty are moving to the platforms,” said Weimer Augsburg General. Regional newspapers and local television and radio stations are also at risk from the development. »Local media delivers what people are most interested in: information about what is happening in front of their door.«
The diversity that exists in Germany must be preserved because “we can only have trust in democracy if we have media that we can trust. And local media are trusted media,” said the 61-year-old.