France’s Macron takes on leaders in tech push
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron took on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other internet giants Wednesday at a Paris meeting to discuss personal data protection and taxes as France pushes for tougher European regulations.
Macron welcomed Zuckerberg and the leaders of dozens of other tech companies, including Microsoft, Uber and IBM, at a “Tech for Good” conference meant to address how they could use their global influence for the public good.
The meeting came as Facebook, Google and other online giants are increasingly seen by the public as predators that abuse personal data, avoid taxes and stifle competition.
Macron, who also met privately with Zuckerberg at the presidential Elysee palace, said beforehand that he would keep asking the Facebook co-founder to make “commitments.”
“France defends the idea of tough regulations” such as a 3 percent digital tax on tech companies’ gross revenue in the European Union, Macron said, adding that it’s “crucial” that internet giants pay taxes. He also wants new regulations to combat extremist propaganda online and cyberbullying.
Privacy was another issue Macron raised with Zuckerberg and the other tech executives in one-onone meetings and at a group lunch in the presidential palace with philanthropists and politicians.
Zuckerberg came to Paris after facing tough questions Tuesday from European Union lawmakers in Brussels, where he apologized for the way the social network has been used to produce fake news and interfere in elections.
Facebook “didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibilities,” he said, adding: “That was a mistake, and I’m sorry for it.”
But Zuckerberg also frustrated the EU lawmakers as the testimony’s setup allowed him to respond to a list of questions as he sought fit.
Macron sees himself as uniquely placed to both understand and influence the tech world. France’s youngest president, Macron has championed startups and aggressively wooed technology investors.
But Macron is also one of Europe’s most vocal critics of tax schemes used by companies like Facebook that deprive governments of billions of euros a year in potential revenue. And Macron has defended an aggressive new European data protection law that comes into effect this week. The regulation will give Europeans more control over what companies can do with what they post, search and click.
Several companies took advantage of the meeting to announce new initiatives.
Google committed $100 million over the next five years to support nonprofit projects such as training in digital technologies.
Uber said it will finance insurance coverage to better protect its European drivers in case of accidents at work, serious illness, hospitalization and maternity leave. And IBM announced the creation of 1,400 jobs by 2020 in France.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called Wednesday’s announcements “a turning point for companies that were navigating somehow on the edge” and are now “choosing to bear their responsibilities.”
It’s unclear, however, whether Zuckerberg’s Europe trip will lead to shifts in Facebook practices. And concerns remain that technology companies will abuse their unprecedented power over consumers, notably as new innovations emerge.
Macron, Zuckerberg and others are expected to attend the Vivatech gadget show in Paris on Thursday.