Malabo: The government of Equatorial Guinea has taken decisive steps to regulate the operations of large digital platforms within its borders, demanding that companies like Meta pay taxes on the profits they earn from their activities in the country. The move, announced on Tuesday, aligns with similar taxation models implemented globally.

According to African Press Organization, Vice President SE Nguema Obiang Mangue led a crucial session at the Peoples Palace in Malabo. The meeting's objective was to solidify the government's stance on taxing digital service distributors and initiate negotiations to ensure they contribute to the Equatorial Guinean State's revenue. This initiative coincided with a session congratulating the Ministry of Transport for its agreement with Starlink to market satellite internet in the country.

The legal authority to sell Starlink's service is to be entrusted to ORTEL, under the supervision of the State Secretariat for Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, the government emphasized the importance of training local technicians for the installation and maintenance of the satellite equipment. A specific bank account will be opened to manage Starlink's income and service payments, with oil companies already authorized to use the offshore network for their services. Contracts acquired outside official channels are to be canceled, aiming to centralize management.

Regarding Meta, the commission highlighted that the company has yet to contribute to the state's finances, despite its extensive business operations. Consequently, the government has directed the commission to explore alternative compensation forms with Meta. The commission is also authorized to engage with other similar applications to assess various options, focusing on both usability and cost to the state.