Hungary rethinks internet tax following big protests

Following large-scale protests, Hungary’s prime minister has said the government would suspend a planned tax on internet use and reconsider the matter next year.

A scheme to make internet service providers pay 150 forints (€0.50) per gigabyte of internet traffic, later proposed to be capped at different monthly rates for individual and business users, prompted tens of thousands of people to make their discontent known during two protests in the capital Budapest over the past week.

Many protesters also considered the tax as another effort by prime minister Viktor Orban to centralise power, muzzle the media, and greatly increase the role and influence of the state in many walks of life, from business and religion to education and sports.