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What's The Worst New Internet Law?

"The Internet is increasingly under attack as lawmakers seek to mandate technological behaviors, impose new taxes and otherwise restrict the free flow of information and commerce online."

Next month, if someone books a hotel room in New York City over the Internet, the travel site will have to pay a 20 percent tax on service fees in addition to the normal taxes and fees on business booked by telephone, according to NetChoice, a Washington D.C.-based coalition of trade associations and eCommerce businesses. And the Maine State Legislature passed a law requiring "verifiable parental consent" before collecting personal information from teenagers. According to NetChoice that law would force Web sites to stop providing college information, test preparation services and class rings, since sites lack the means to obtain verifiable consent.

"The Internet is increasingly under attack as lawmakers seek to mandate technological behaviors, impose new taxes and otherwise restrict the free flow of information and commerce online," said Steve DelBianco, executive director of NetChoice in a release. The group has compiled a top 10 list of "ugly laws" that include:

  • Digital Download Taxes in Colorado and Washington
  • North Carolina Digital Downloads Tax Bill -- HB 558/S 487
  • North Carolina Tickets Bill -- SB 99
  • Massachusetts Online Advertising Bill -- HB 313
  • North Carolina Advertising Nexus Proposal
  • New York Tax on Online Resume Searches
Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.