Hungary today scrapped a planned tax on internet data transfers after protests by tens of thousands of demonstrators over the last week.
A draft tax bill sparked anger across the country after including a provision for Internet providers to pay a tax of 150 forints (40 pence) per gigabyte of data traffic.
Critics said the law would not only increase the tax burden but also curb fundamental democratic rights and freedoms.
But Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been widely accused of adopting anti-democratic policies, today shelved the proposals because 'people have questioned the rationality' of the measure.
He said the government will hold a national consultation from mid-January about regulating and taxing the Internet and reconsider the matter next year.
Mr Orban also said Hungary would stick to its plan to offer broadband Internet access to every household by 2020. Full story...
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A draft tax bill sparked anger across the country after including a provision for Internet providers to pay a tax of 150 forints (40 pence) per gigabyte of data traffic.
Critics said the law would not only increase the tax burden but also curb fundamental democratic rights and freedoms.
But Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been widely accused of adopting anti-democratic policies, today shelved the proposals because 'people have questioned the rationality' of the measure.
He said the government will hold a national consultation from mid-January about regulating and taxing the Internet and reconsider the matter next year.
Mr Orban also said Hungary would stick to its plan to offer broadband Internet access to every household by 2020. Full story...
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- Hungarian protesters urge PM Orban to scrap Internet tax...
- Hungary looks to levy big tax on internet use...
- How the govt’s shadow Internet kills yours...
- Web Magna Carta: WWW inventor Tim Berners-Lee calls for ‘online bill of rights’
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