French lawmakers have approved an amendment that would impose a tax on the volume of internet traffic that content providers send to users in France. The proposal's authors estimate it would raise about 10 billion euros, or roughly $11.2 billion, annually. The measure, which sets a levy of 0.055 euros per gigabyte, or about $0.65, still must clear further parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law. Parliament is scheduled to vote on the first section of the 2027 budget in early November.
The tax targets companies that generate substantial internet traffic rather than their advertising revenue, profits or subscriptions. Its explanatory notes name Google, Meta, Netflix, Amazon and content delivery network Akamai as major potential contributors. TikTok and similar platforms could fall within the broader scope depending on how the rules are applied. France has approximately 154 million users, according to the article.
Under the proposal, internet service providers including Orange, Free and Iliad would measure data volumes and identify the companies responsible for sending that data to French users. The information would be collected and submitted quarterly to France's tax administration under the supervision of telecommunications watchdog Arcep. The plan also includes a cap of 15% of a company's French revenue or 2% of its worldwide revenue, and it accounts for content delivery networks, which store copies of online content closer to users to reduce loading times and network congestion.
Laurent Lhardit, a proponent of the amendment, said the tax would be borne by content providers themselves and described the revenue estimate as 10 billion. He also said businesses would pay relatively modest costs, citing TF1 as an example, which he said would require broadcasters to contribute between 200,000 and 300,000. Opponents argue the measure is likely to endanger user privacy. Government Minister David Amiel questioned whether internet traffic could be measured and attributed to content providers without introducing complicated monitoring requirements, and those concerns extend to potential consequences for French business.
Several European countries already impose digital service taxes, generally based on revenue from ads, marketplaces and other digital activities. In March, Meta announced it would introduce location-based fees of between 2% and 55 for advertisers to offset digital services taxes and other government levies in several countries, including France, Italy and Spain, from July 1, 2026. The European Commission has previously brought major enforcement actions against technology companies, including a 5 billion fine against Google over Android antitrust violations, Facebook's 100 million fine for misleading European regulators, and an investigation into Facebook's ability to link WhatsApp accounts.
Last year, Apple and Meta were fined 500 million and 200 million, respectively, a move that strained the relationship between Brussels and Washington, with the U.S. calling the penalties a novel form of economic extortion that it will not tolerate. The amendment's adoption in parliament is only the first step. If it clears the remaining stages of France's 2027 budget process, it can become law.
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