[At-Large] [APAC-Discuss] R: France Proposes Internet Tax - Old War Resurfacing

[Evan Leibovitch]

Nice in theory, and indeed your country's choice. But it doesn't exactly
help your global competitiveness if yours is the only country on Earth that
charges users for casual Gmail/Gchat/Gmaps use.

Of course, global competitiveness may not be a national goal. But, frankly,
from this distance the effort looks like a case of calling attention to
foreigners to divert attention from
much<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21102391>
bigger <http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2013/01/india-and-pakistan>
domestic <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21053432>
problems<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21033968>,
and a nuclear-armed next-door neighbour whose 24-hour news channels scream
headlines such as "more Pak barbarism" (saw that myself).

IOW, going after Google appears the least of your national policy issues.
Heck my country does this kind of politically-motivated diversion all the
time, though in Canada at this time the stake appear somewhat ... lower.

> It may be a challenge to freedom of expression but corporations do not necessarily
represent the freedoms of individual internet users.

Not necessarily. But maybe in this case it is.

Just MHO.

- Evan


On 22 January 2013 13:43, Fouad Bajwa <fouadbajwa at gmail.com> wrote:

> The same is being done in Pakistan and frankly speaking, I don't mind.
> Its a free market economy but one has to realize that these companies
> are coming from outside our country and should conform to certain
> regulatory environments in the markets that they operate in. It may be
> a challenge to freedom of expression but corporations do not
> necessarily represent the freedoms of individual internet users.
>
> best
>
> Fouad
>
> On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 10:54 PM, Roberto Gaetano
> <roberto_gaetano at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Sala,
> > Although I agree with you that this French proposal can reopen the "old
> war"
> > of internet taxation, it should be pointed out that the proposed tax is
> not
> > on commercial transactions, i.e. it is not a trade tax, but a "fee" for
> > collecting personal information.
> > So, besides the financial implication there are other subjects that this
> > proposal raises. Maybe that warrants also a discussion.
> > Cheers,
> > R.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Messaggio originale-----
> > Da: at-large-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> > [mailto:at-large-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org] Per conto di
> Salanieta T.
> > Tamanikaiwaimaro
> > Inviato: lunedì 21 gennaio 2013 21:23
> > A: At-Large Worldwide; apralo
> > Oggetto: [At-Large] France Proposes Internet Tax - Old War Resurfacing
> >
> > Dear All,
> >
> > You would have read in the New York Times about France proposing Internet
> > Tax - I have blogged about this here:
> >
> >
> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130121_france_proposes_internet_tax_an_old_w
> > ar_resurfacing/
> >
> > Kind Regards,
> >
> > --
> > Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
> > P.O. Box 17862
> > Suva
> > Fiji
> >
> > Twitter: @SalanietaT
> > Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
> > Tel: +679 3544828
> > Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851
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> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Regards.
> --------------------------
> Fouad Bajwa
> ICT4D and Internet Governance Advisor
> My Blog: Internet's Governance: http://internetsgovernance.blogspot.com/
> Follow my Tweets: http://twitter.com/fouadbajwa
>
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-- 
Evan Leibovitch
Toronto Canada

Em: evan at telly dot org
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