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This isn't the point here though? These companies are doing business in the EU and not playing fair by not paying their share of taxes. This isn't about prevent
by aweb 9y ago
This isn't the point here though? These companies are doing business in the EU and not playing fair by not paying their share of taxes. This isn't about preventing them from existing, it's about making them contribute what they owe to the EU countries.
- lefstathiou 9y agoI don't want to put words in the parent's mouth but I believe his point is that what is "fair" and what they "owe" are up for debate. Additionally, his question hints at a potentially equally significant and subtle issue: is the effort to capture this increased tax revenue from 4 companies really worth the potential costs on a society to get them? $5bn isnt going to balance Greece's budget. Setting aside the potential arguments defending Google (I have genuinely have no opinion on them or any of the other companies), a comprehensive law that requires every internet company to track every dollar by country and pay proportional taxes on their revenue could, in my opinion, severely cripple innovation in a continent that is finding itself falling behind at a global scale due to a variety of macro-issues. I like to give governments the benefit of the doubt that they won't do something silly like that, but then I look at this net neutrality issue and start to wonder. Bottom line, there does not appear to be a consensus on this issue "morally" (for lack of a better word) which is why we're seeing such diversity of views on HN and globally. Just throwing it out there...