UK may tax internet giants to get more help fighting online extremism
The UK still isn't convinced that internet giants are doing enough to curb online extremism , and it's now considering hitting those companies where it really hurts: their bank accounts. In an interview with the Sunday Times , security minister Ben Wallace said the country should use taxes to either incentivize stronger anti-extremist efforts or compensate for "inaction." While Wallace didn't go into detail as to what he'd like, the Times suggested it would be a windfall-based tax that targeted companies' large profits. Wallace certainly doesn't think very highly of internet companies -- he called them "ruthless profiteers" who put "profit before public safety." They'll sell info to loan sharks and "soft-porn companies," he claimed, but won't give it to the UK's elected government. The companies in question object to the claims. Facebook's Simon Milner said Wallace was "wrong" that the soci...