Uganda to impose social media tax to stop online 'gossip'
- 6 years ago
Uganda's parliament has passed a law that imposes controversial taxes on people using social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.
The country's president, Yoweri Museveni, had said the move was to discourage gossip, which he said was costing Uganda time and money.
The tax was passed on Wednesday and will impose 200 shilling, or five U.S. cents, on social media users starting July 1st.
According to the World Bank, that amounts to 19 U.S. dollars per year in a country where GDP per capita came to just over 600 dollars in 2016.
The law also includes a one percent levy on the total value of mobile money transactions.
Critics argue that the new law is an attempt to restrict free speech and stifle negative comments about Museveni.
However, it remains unclear as to how the law will be implemented.
The country's president, Yoweri Museveni, had said the move was to discourage gossip, which he said was costing Uganda time and money.
The tax was passed on Wednesday and will impose 200 shilling, or five U.S. cents, on social media users starting July 1st.
According to the World Bank, that amounts to 19 U.S. dollars per year in a country where GDP per capita came to just over 600 dollars in 2016.
The law also includes a one percent levy on the total value of mobile money transactions.
Critics argue that the new law is an attempt to restrict free speech and stifle negative comments about Museveni.
However, it remains unclear as to how the law will be implemented.