Hungary plans per-gigabyte “internet tax” on service providers

Hungarian internet service providers will be forced to pay a new “internet tax” on the data use they enable, if the country’s parliament passes a new tax bill.

Reports suggest that this bill will go through, as the ruling Fidesz party has a two-thirds parliamentary majority. It would levy a tax of 150 forints, or around 62 US cents, on every gigabyte of data used by ISPs’ customers -- an internet-focused extension of an existing tax on phone calls and text messages. As many fear the ISPs will pass the costs on to their customers, Hungarian internet users are predictably apoplectic, and some have reportedly planned demonstrations.