Microsoft, Google, Facebook Discussed Brexit Impact With UK Ministers - Reports

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2018) The representatives of three technology giants, microsoft, Google and Facebook, have held a meeting with the UK ministers to discuss the impact that Brexit would have on the industry in terms of migration, research and data-sharing, The Telegraph reported citing sources close to the matter.

Meanwhile, on October 29, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is expected to deliver the budget for the next financial year, and media reports suggest that the government may be planning to introduce a digital tax on some of the largest international technology companies.

The newspaper reported citing the sources that the meeting had been held in London on Wednesday as part of the UK Digital Economy Council and was attended by the council's chair, Jeremy Wright, who is also the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, by Minister of State for Digital Margot James and Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion Baroness Rona Fairhead.

According to the news outlet, one of the key issue that worried the three companies was the immigration policy after Brexit.

The companies wanted to obtain guarantees from the government that they would be able to continue to hire staff from the European Union after the United Kingdom leaves the bloc.

The companies also wanted to learn about the impact of Brexit on the sphere of research and education in the United Kingdom and on the data-sharing rules as they are set to change once London leaves the bloc, the news outlet added.

The companies also discussed the progress in the talks on a data sharing agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, the newspaper said.

The ministers are believed not to have excluded the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, adding, however, that such an outcome was unlikely.

While Brexit negotiations are still ongoing, the UK government has already stated its intention to end preferential treatment for EU citizens and curb immigration. According to the existing regulations, the citizens of all countries comprising the European Economic Area, which includes the EU countries along with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, can work in the United Kingdom without getting a visa.