Austria to press ahead with digital tax

The Japanese government is scrutinising the dominant role played by the world's largest information technology companies.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz vowed to press ahead with a tax on large Internet and technology companies, following France's example, as the European Union struggles to finalise a new EU-wide levy.

France, which is pushing for a new so-called "GAFA tax" – named after Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon – is advancing with its own tax starting tomorrow to ensure the global giants pay a fair share of taxes on massive business operations in Europe.