Topic: Google Tax

Major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook are implementing vaccine mandates, which some suggest is a strategy to trim staff without paying unemployment taxes. Global elites continue to message that there will be no return to the "old normal," reinforcing the "Great Reset" narrative.

France has implemented a 3% Digital Services Tax (DST) targeting major US technology firms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Tech leaders testified that the tax is discriminatory and difficult to calculate due to data tracking requirements. President Trump has threatened to retaliate by placing tariffs on French wine imports.

Google reportedly shifted $23 billion to Bermuda in 2017 to avoid taxes using a "Double Irish, Dutch Sandwich" scheme. The hosts mock Amy Goodman's reporting on the story, noting her mispronunciation of the tax strategy and confusion regarding revenue versus taxes.

A Bloomberg report revealed a secret deal between Google and Mastercard to track retail sales by linking online ads to offline credit card purchases. This data sharing affects approximately two billion Mastercard users. The discussion also touches on the prevalence of cash-only restaurants as a means of tax evasion and the role of Bitcoin in modern money laundering.

The European Parliament is considering a copyright directive that would require search engines to pay publishers for displaying snippets of news articles. This "link tax" is intended to support the European press but could lead to search engines removing news links entirely. The discussion compares this to the historical "switchback" of cable networks moving from paying for content to being paid to carry it.

Google's founders have a controversial deal with NASA Ames to park their fleet of private jets at Moffett Field. This arrangement provides them with convenient access and allegedly government-subsidized, tax-free fuel. The hosts discuss how Eric Schmidt manages the public image of the founders to downplay their immense wealth while they enjoy exclusive logistical advantages.

At a LinkedIn town hall, an audience member who identified as a former Google employee asked the President to raise his taxes. The hosts characterize the exchange as a staged setup, noting the President's lack of surprise and the questioner's specific mention of Pell Grants and infrastructure.

The state of Pennsylvania is running a controversial tax amnesty advertisement that uses Google Maps imagery to "target" a taxpayer's home. The ad, featuring the website paytaxup.com, is described as an overtly sinister display of government surveillance power. The campaign threatens that the government "knows who you are" to coerce back-tax payments.

Google is accused of avoiding over 100 million pounds in UK taxes by routing earnings through Ireland. The conversation shifts to the hardware limitations of the G-Phone, specifically its poor battery life compared to the Nokia E71. Adam Curry shares a personal story about incurring $600 in roaming charges despite turning off the phone's transmitter.

Adam Curry provides an update on new UK tax regulations effective April 8th regarding non-domiciled residents. The rules impose a 30,000-pound annual fee for certain tax exemptions and introduce new levies on capital gains brought into the country. Curry notes that major tech firms like Yahoo and Google are reportedly moving operations to Switzerland in response to these changes.