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@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@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@atlarge-lists.icann.org [mailto:at-large-bounces@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 _______________________________________________ At-Large mailing list At-Large@atlarge-lists.icann.org https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/at-large
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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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