France plans 'Google tax' on internet searches

France plans 'Google tax' on internet searches

www.telegraph.co.uk

France is planning a "Google tax" on internet search websites to raise money to plough into creative industries weakened by the digital revolution.The proposal, outlined in a government-commissioned survey, has set the scene for a new Gallic run-in with Google – fast becoming the global internet behemoth the world loves to hate.
The levy on advertising revenue is the latest plank in France's drive to regulate the internet, which has seen it enact some of the world's toughest antipiracy legislation.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Ok now why does this trouble me ?

It would seem that the " wrong doer's " are often blamed as the reason for the rest of us losing a right that we once enjoyed .

Now we see a government open to the idea of taxing and in an argumentative way perhaps even regulating the net .

Will this notion catch on in other countries ? Or would this idea been seen as political suicide here in the Americas' ?

I for one hope that this report generates some recognition because as with everything else , once the government gets there hands into something its very very hard to stop that hand from creeping in deeper and deeper , never mind ever getting that hand out again .

www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

This stuff won't happen if you take action.

Start now, by boycotting google. Use startpage.com for your searches.
Tell your ISP's to not voice support for these schemes which work against the freedom of the internet. Make it clear you will change ISP's if you see them agreeing to such plans.

there are a few reasons for this action that immediately spring to mind

Tax revenues - cold hard cash

English Language Suppression - the French legislators would love that

control of internet content - Yahoo, facebook & Google not controlled form Frances beloved Europe

the only way that the free search engines and content providers could survive this would be to to start charging or increase revenue streams from advertising

I'm more worried that it is setting a national precedent of either charging for content or restricting / filtering the content



[edit on 8/1/10 by osc121]