Calls For Tech Companies To Pay ‘Terrorism Taxes’

Uk Security Minister Proposes ‘Terrorism Tax’

The role that technology giants play in enabling terrorism is certainly one of concern for many. The utilisation, particularly of social media websites to spread terrorism is certainly one of the main key highlights. So much so that the UK security Minister Ben Wallace has said that such websites should pay an additional tax to combat terrorism.

In a report via the BBC, Mr Wallace feels that while governments are spending many millions battling online security, tech firms do very little.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Wallace said: “Because content is not taken down as quickly as they could do, we’re having to de-radicalise people who have been radicalised. That’s costing millions.”

He added that in particular, programs such as WhatsApp, which refuses to give security services access to message data was: “turning the internet into an anarchic violent space” and “Because of encryption and because of radicalisation, the cost of that is heaped on law enforcement agencies”.

Does he have a point?

Ben Wallace, based on these concerns, has proposed that such online technology companies should pay an additional tax which could directly fund anti-terrorism policing.

Following recent accusations of election tampering and ‘fake news spreading’ Google and Facebook have already begun cracking down on content. In addition, Twitter has also begun removing account verifications or indeed banning them completely.

Beyond this, however, there is no formal implementation of payment to 3rd party security providers, such as national police forces. For many, there are good reasons for this. The actions of the NSA in recent years show how dangerous such infringements can be.

Put simply, the matter is a knotty one. While there will be many advocates for such taxation, there will also be those who have concerns over governmental monitoring.

What do you think? – A good idea or a step closer to a police state? – Let us know in the comments!