A confidential presentation by Google shows how the US group is resisting stricter regulation in the EU. According to reports from the French news magazine Le Point and the British Financial Times, the document lists a number of specific lobbying measures. The aim is to “increase resistance against Thierry Breton”. EU Commissioner Breton wants to tighten the rules for Internet platforms with the “Digital Services Act” package.

According to Le Point, Google employees have that previously agreed lobby script followed exactly. For example, in October they asked for appointments from EU Director General Roberto Viola (but to no avail) and sponsored a newsletter for EU politics in a certain week. According to the reports, Google also wanted to address the German MEP Axel Voss and the Luxembourg Minister for Economic Affairs, Franz Fayot.

Breton told Le Point that he was “unfortunately not surprised”. Even during earlier negotiations on the copyright line, platform operators had carried out “very intensive” lobbying work that sometimes bordered on harassment. He is ready to discuss with the platforms, but he is also “not naive”.

Rewe and Zalando should help Google’s “60 – Daily Plan” for the Digital Services Act also lists companies that Google wants to win as “allies”, according to Le Point and Financial Times. Among others, Zalando, Rewe, Ubisoft and Booking.com are named. However, the Dutch travel platform told the Financial Times that it did not want to work with Google. The interests are “diametrically opposed”.

When asked by heise online, a Google spokesman stated that they were “concerned” about certain proposals that would prevent global technology companies from addressing “the growing needs of Europe To satisfy users and consumers “. This was communicated “publicly and privately”. When asked whether the “60 – daily plan” is authentic, the company did not respond.

The organization Lobbycontrol described Google’s lobby campaign as “aggressive”. The upcoming important decisions should not be unilaterally determined by corporate interests, said lobby control activist Max Bank. The EU Commission wants to present its proposals for the “Digital Services Act” on December 2nd.

(cwo)