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Why single out Google and FB or tech in general? Is the belief that these companies pay less taxes than non tech companies? I don’t have the breadth nor depth o

Why single out Google and FB or tech in general? Is the belief that these companies pay less taxes than non tech companies? I don’t have the breadth nor depth on this topic, just wanting to learn.

toomuchtodo 7y ago
Disproportionately deep pockets and impact. Research the breakup of Standard Oil (which became Exxon, Amoco, Mobil and Chevron) in the US. The power Standard Oil wielded was non-insignificant, as with behemoth tech companies. While these regulatory actions are surprising to some, if you’re into history it’s no surprise it’s happening again, but to tech instead of oil.
- tracer4201 7y ago
  Standard oil had major political influence and the energy companies today still have major political clout. Source: worked for 6 years for a vertically integrated energy company. It’s not clear how big tech companies have the same political influence. Yes, social media has been manipulated I think to influence outcomes, but do social media companies themselves have that influence over politicians? To be clear, I am not saying you’re wrong. I’m asking a question.
tootahe45 7y ago
Because politicians attack things perceived as bad by the public. If there's a time to implement such a tax it's after a year of sensationalist (and largely fake) news about FB and Google, from exaggerated data breaches to helping terrorists.
- megous 7y ago
  No. I have a database of all news article titles from major Czech Media over the last decade, and there's precisely 2 news about google and data leaks and 2 news about google helping terrorists.
- Fnoord 7y ago
  I don't know about (any) Google data breaches but the Facebook data breaches are neither fake nor sensationalist.
  - tracer4201 7y ago
    I agree but taxation and data breaches are orthogonal. To be clear, I’m not defending their practices (or lack of security).
djakjxnanjak 7y ago
The big tech companies are US-based and haven’t had as much time to build deep political connections like older industries. This makes them a natural target.
- kmlx 7y ago
  yes, this. think about taxi drivers: very low numbers, low revenue=low taxes, huge political clout. same thing with the model aircraft enthusiasts: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/2574825c-6794-11e9-a79d-04f350474d62 https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/2574825c-6... considering that most young people that work in these tech companies don’t vote, these tech companies are ripe for plundering.

Why single out Google and FB or tech in general? Is the belief that these companies pay less taxes than non tech companies? I don’t have the breadth nor depth on this topic, just wanting to learn.

toomuchtodo 7y ago

Disproportionately deep pockets and impact. Research the breakup of Standard Oil (which became Exxon, Amoco, Mobil and Chevron) in the US. The power Standard Oil wielded was non-insignificant, as with behemoth tech companies. While these regulatory actions are surprising to some, if you’re into history it’s no surprise it’s happening again, but to tech instead of oil.

tracer4201 7y ago
Standard oil had major political influence and the energy companies today still have major political clout. Source: worked for 6 years for a vertically integrated energy company. It’s not clear how big tech companies have the same political influence. Yes, social media has been manipulated I think to influence outcomes, but do social media companies themselves have that influence over politicians? To be clear, I am not saying you’re wrong. I’m asking a question.

tootahe45 7y ago

Because politicians attack things perceived as bad by the public. If there's a time to implement such a tax it's after a year of sensationalist (and largely fake) news about FB and Google, from exaggerated data breaches to helping terrorists.

megous 7y ago
No. I have a database of all news article titles from major Czech Media over the last decade, and there's precisely 2 news about google and data leaks and 2 news about google helping terrorists.
Fnoord 7y ago
I don't know about (any) Google data breaches but the Facebook data breaches are neither fake nor sensationalist.
- tracer4201 7y ago
  I agree but taxation and data breaches are orthogonal. To be clear, I’m not defending their practices (or lack of security).

djakjxnanjak 7y ago

The big tech companies are US-based and haven’t had as much time to build deep political connections like older industries. This makes them a natural target.

kmlx 7y ago
yes, this. think about taxi drivers: very low numbers, low revenue=low taxes, huge political clout. same thing with the model aircraft enthusiasts: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/2574825c-6794-11e9-a79d-04f350474d62 https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/2574825c-6... considering that most young people that work in these tech companies don’t vote, these tech companies are ripe for plundering.