Social media use taxed in Uganda to tackle 'gossip'

New law criticised as attempt to block free speech rather than simply raise revenue

Users of Whatsapp, Facebook, Skype and other social media in Uganda will have to pay a daily tax from July, according to a new law that rights activists have criticised as a bid to stifle free speech.

Uganda’s parliament passed a law late on Wednesday imposing a tax of 200 shillings (five cents) a day on users of so-called “over-the-top” services which publish content bypassing traditional distributors. The new law did not spell out how the tax would be applied and collected.

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from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2kIknCt