# @unusual_whales: French lawmakers approve €0.055 per GB tax on data sent

Source: https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/2116290132097769745
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/unusualwhales-French-lawmakers-approve-euro0055-per-GB-tax-on-data-sent?index=0x6ae53f78df9b52f76d107fc604c0bc7507ae12cd34d4e72f515156ff1d6cb76605418329
Submitted by misha on 2026-10-31 UTC, 1 upvote, 0 comments

## Summary

French lawmakers approved a tax of €0.055 (5.5 cents) per gigabyte on data that companies such as Netflix and YouTube send to users in France. The tax is levied on the companies rather than on users directly, though the article notes the cost could be passed on to subscribers. The vote was 11 to 10, with only 35 of 577 lawmakers present. Supporters say it could raise up to €10 billion a year, while the French government opposed it, warning it would hit smaller French companies hardest; VLC says it would cost the company over €1 million a year.

## Article

BREAKING: France just voted to tax the internet.

French lawmakers approved a tax of €0.055 (5.5 cents) for every gigabyte of data that companies like Netflix and YouTube send to French users. It’s a tax on the companies, not users directly, but the cost could get passed on to subscribers.

The vote was 11 to 10, with only 35 of 577 lawmakers present. Supporters say it could raise up to €10 billion a year. The French government opposed it, warning it would hit smaller French companies hardest; VLC says it would cost it over €1 million a year.