Business & Finance
French lawmakers advance per-gigabyte internet traffic tax in budget vote
Slashdot reports an 11-10 vote added a per-gigabyte tax on content providers to France's next budget, which still faces opposition.
The short version
- French lawmakers voted 11-10 on October 30 to add an internet traffic tax amendment to the next budget.[Slashdot]
- The proposal would require content providers to pay €0.055 per gigabyte distributed to French users.[Slashdot]
- Proposal authors estimate about €10 billion in annual revenue, while nonprofit VideoLAN warns the levy could cost it over €1 million a year.[Slashdot]
- The amendment faces government and finance committee opposition, and its final status remains unknown.[Slashdot]
Key facts
- French lawmakers voted 11-10 on October 30 to add a per-gigabyte internet traffic tax motion to the country's next budget.[Slashdot]
- The amendment was introduced by socialist lawmaker Laurent Lhardit.[Slashdot]
- The proposal would have content providers pay €0.055 per gigabyte of content distributed to French users.[Slashdot]
- The proposal's authors say the tax could generate around €10 billion in annual government revenue.[Slashdot]
- VideoLAN, a French nonprofit behind the VLC media player, warned the levy could cost it more than €1 million annually.[Slashdot]
What remains uncertain
- Adding the measure to the budget amendment does not confirm it will become law, since further parliamentary approval is required.[Slashdot]
- The €10 billion revenue figure is an estimate from the proposal's authors and has not been independently verified.[Slashdot]
- The government and the finance committee rapporteur oppose the measure, so its final form is unclear.[Slashdot]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.