2026-01-18 05:26:22

A recent opinion has attracted attention in the market: some point out that the EU's fines on tech companies are "outrageous." Data clearly illustrates the issue— in 2024, the EU issued fines totaling 3.8 billion euros to U.S. tech giants, while the total corporate income tax paid by internet technology companies listed in Europe during the same period was only 3.2 billion euros. What does this mean? The fines actually exceed these companies' annual tax contributions.

Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta have now become "regulars" in the EU, either dealing with new fines or handling tax reassessment rulings. This accelerated regulatory pace reflects a growing global emphasis on tax compliance for tech companies.

For investors, this is not just a contest between the EU and tech firms; it also involves how to view the future compliance costs of the tech industry. As regulatory pressure continues to increase, the financial performance and market strategies of these giants may need to be adjusted. Especially for market participants focused on the tech ecosystem and Web3 application scenarios, understanding these compliance trends can help better grasp market dynamics.

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GasFeeSobber

· 11h ago

The EU's move is really brilliant, directly treating fines as taxes... Speaking of which, if they keep going like this, can tech stocks still rise? Small retail investors like us should be more optimistic about our wallets.

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LiquidityNinja

· 11h ago

This move by the EU... a 3.8 billion euro fine directly outweighs tax contributions, forcibly turning Big Tech into an ATM.

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GateUser-cff9c776

· 11h ago

The EU's recent actions can be described as an art-level "harvesting" of retail investors, with fines almost matching their tax revenue, perfectly illustrating what it means for regulation to be a printing press. How come Apple and Google haven't thought of this? In the digital age, it turns out that the predators are government agencies. Now, with compliance costs skyrocketing, how can retail investors compete with institutions for chips? The decentralized spirit of Web3 suddenly seems especially appealing. According to supply and demand curves, if fines continue like this, the valuation floor of tech stocks will need to be redrawn. But on the other hand, the EU's approach also gives us some insights... The greater the regulatory pressure, the more we need to find an escape route. Do you understand the true value of Web3?

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All-InQueen

· 12h ago

The EU is really ruthless this time, with a 3.8 billion euro fine exceeding their annual tax revenue. Just thinking about it is outrageous. Now I understand, big companies will have to include compliance costs in the future. Apple and Google probably need to revise their financial strategies. Fines exceeding taxes? That logic is pretty extreme... Big Tech has truly become an ATM in Europe, but I wonder if Web3 will also come under scrutiny? Apple and Google are fined every day, the market needs to be re-priced. EU: We will crack down on you, and make compliance costs rise. Increased regulation is not very friendly to tech stocks in the long run; it depends on how things develop next. I just want to know whether these fines ultimately go to European taxpayers or into officials' pockets...

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