The Netherlands considering internet tax to prop up newspapers

The Dutch Government is considering a proposal to tax internet access to prop up the local newspaper industry.

The report, compiled by a Dutch Parliamentary committee, proposes a 6% tax on ISP fees which would go directly to heritage media. The report claims that “news and the gathering of news stories is not free, and the public must be made aware of that.”

It’s not clear from reports whether the proposal will become law, but local web companies and internet users are rightly outraged by the proposal.

(via Slashdot)