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☆ A global tax war is looming. It could hit Big Tech hard
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A stalemate in Washington could destroy a landmark tax deal that was painstakingly hammered out among 140 countries over the better part of a decade. Some analysts say that the United States’ inability to ratify the deal could lead to a tax war among the richest nations that would hit tech behemoths like Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon particularly hard. Canada recently implemented a local tax on the world’s largest tech companies, something the OECD treaty had sought to avoid. New Zealand has also said it will implement its own digital services tax on large multinational companies beginning in 2025. The FTC also said that documents showed that competing mattress suppliers would lose access to its most important retail channel.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Manal Corwin, ”, Megan Funkhouser, won’t, Alicia Wallace, Economists, Ramishah Maruf, Tempur Sealy, —, Foster Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Apple, Meta, Economic Co, Development, OECD, Biden, Republicans, Finance, OECD’s, Tax, Administration, Information Technology Industry Council, CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics ’, Labor, Labor Statistics, Federal Trade Commission, United, FTC, Pedic, Sealy Locations: New York, Washington, United States, Canada, Zealand, New Zealand, Stearns

☆ Congress to hold new AI hearings as it works to craft safeguards
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Congress next week will hold three hearings on artificial intelligence, including one with Microsoft (MSFT.O) President Brad Smith and Nvidia (NVDA.O) chief scientist William Daly as Congress works on legislation to mitigate the dangers of the emerging technology. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee is holding a hearing on Tuesday titled “Oversight of AI: Legislating on Artificial Intelligence." A House Oversight subcommittee will hold a hearing on Thursday that will look at potential risks in federal agency adoption of AI along with the adequacy of safeguards to protect individual privacy and ensure fair treatment. Witnesses include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhaker along with the Pentagon's chief digital and artificial intelligence officer Craig Martell and Homeland Security Department's Chief Information Officer Eric Hysen. "However, it is critical that before we let the genie out of the bottle we understand the unique risks of inappropriate use of AI by the federal government."

Persons: Brad Smith, William Daly, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal, Josh Hawley, Chuck Schumer, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Arati Prabhaker, Craig Martell, Eric Hysen, Nancy Mace, Victoria Espinel, Rob Strayer, David Shepardson, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Microsoft, Nvidia, Artificial Intelligence, Republican, U.S, Meta, White, Office of Science, Technology, Homeland Security, BSA, The Software Alliance, Information Technology Industry, Thomson

☆ EU countries, lawmakers reach data rule deal targeting Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, June 27 (Reuters) - EU countries and EU lawmakers on Tuesday agreed on rules that govern how Big Tech and other companies use European consumer and corporate data, with safeguards against non-EU governments gaining illegal access. The European Commission proposed the Data Act last year to cover data generated in smart gadgets, machinery and consumer products, part of a raft of legislation aimed at curbing the power of U.S. tech giants. EU concerns about data transfers have grown following revelations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 of mass U.S. surveillance. "Tonight's agreement on the Data Act is a milestone in reshaping the digital space...we are on the way of a thriving EU data economy that is innovative and open — on our conditions," EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a tweet. It also gives consumers and companies a say on what can be done with the data generated by their connected products.

Persons: Edward Snowden, Thierry Breton, Damian Boeselager, Guido Lobrano, Foo Yun Chee, David Gregorio, Lincoln Organizations: Big Tech, EU, European Commission, Manufacturers, Siemens, SAP, Information Technology Industry, ITI, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe

☆ Analysis: Global tax deal at risk as first pillar teeters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Reuters GraphicsDIGITAL SERVICE TAXWhile the global minimum tax was always expected to bring in far more revenue, the collapse of plans to redistribute taxing rights would not come without consequences. The Biden administration backed the deal in 2021 in part because it requires other countries to abandon existing or planned digital services taxes targeting big U.S. tech groups. France, which the Trump administration hit with tariff action over its digital services tax before the Biden administration suspended it, has said that it will keep the tax in place as long as Pillar I of the deal is not resolved. Against that background, U.S. companies are eager to see progress on a multilateral solution that would get rid of unilateral digital services taxes. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC last week that the bill had little chance of passing and that the United States would get on board with the global minimum.

Persons: Peter Barnes, Biden, Trump, Megan Funkhouser, Janet Yellen, Barnes, Leigh Thomas, Christian Kraemer, David Lawder, Catherine Evans Organizations: PARIS, Google, Fiscal Association, Republican, U.S . Congress, Economic Cooperation, Development, Reuters, OECD, Information Technology Industry Council, Republicans, Treasury, CNBC, Trump, Thomson Locations: United States, Paris, France, Washington, U.S, United, Berlin

☆ Democrats warn large tech firms could evade competition policies under new trade rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's not the first time Democrats have raised concerns about tech provisions being included in trade agreements. The group urged Tai and Raimondo "not to put up for negotiation or discussion any digital trade text that conflicts" with the agenda set by the whole-of-government effort. "Big Tech wants to include an overly broad provision that would help large tech firms evade competition policies by claiming that such policies subject these firms to 'illegal trade discrimination,'" the Democrats wrote. "Tech companies could also weaponize these digital trade rules to undermine similar efforts by our trading partners." The letter cited a U.S. Chamber of Commerce blog post about a trade group coalition note advocating for strong digital trade provisions in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

☆ How Silicon Valley could be impacted by a Republican-controlled House
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Democrats have hammered away at online platforms’ handling of hate speech and white nationalism, while promoting legislation that could drastically affect the business models of big tech companies. The return of heated tech CEO hearingsIn general, tech companies may face more political noise with a Republican House but potentially less policy risk. With Republicans likely to take control of the House, tech companies could face more hearings, but not necessarily more legislation. Privacy legislationMultiple Congress-watchers told CNN that support for federal privacy legislation is still bipartisan and the area remains one of a handful where lawmakers could make progress in the next Congress. It was approved by a key House committee this year and policy analysts say it could see more opportunities to advance next year.

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