Fidesz’s plan is so-far unprecedented in the world. Their government would expand an already existing telecommunications tax to internet. Contrary to anticipations yesterday the bill plans to tax not company profits but the internet traffic itself, projecting HUF 150 in taxation after every gigabyte users initiate to download.

According to 444.hu and Index, the rate would make Hungary the only country in the world where web services such as Skype or YouTube would not be free. 444 also published a list of how much some downloads would cost after the tax takes effect. We publish the original forint prices converted to US dollars:

One hour of browsing, mostly reading articles: 7 cents
An hour of watching videos on YouTube: 8 cents
An hour of listening on Spotify: 9 cents
An hour on Facebook: 14 cents
Listening to a webradio for an hour daily throughout one month: 1 dollar 30 cents
One hour of Skype videochat: 36 cents
Downloading a blu-ray movie via torrent: 19 dollars
Video-streaming all episodes of Friends: 323 dollars

The proposal generated unprecedented and widespread outrage. A Facebook group, “A hundred thousand against the internet tax,” formed on Tuesday already reached 110,000 likes by mid-Wednesday, and a Sunday protest against the bill in inner-city Budapest already has 11,000 RSVPs.

Source: The Budapest Beacon

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