Tax the Internet?

At first glance this appears a ludicrous, and impossible, task.  But what has cropped up recently is action by the French government to tax giant Amazon and Google in relation to "the allocation of income between foreign jurisdictions".

Back in November last year, Amazon got slapped with a $252 million tax bill by the French, which, of course, Amazon said it would fight.  No news yet and what's happening, but, even for Amazon, $252 mil isn't pocket money.  More importantly, kowtowing to the French would open up the "cash-grab" floodgates from every Government against every Internet business.

Now French President François Hollande asked for a report - presented last week - that looks at taxign those Internet companies who track and monetize data based on the amount of users.  In their sights are not only Amazon and Google, but ANY company who does business on the net.  The ramifications are huge!

None of this should come as any shock, of course, as cash-strapped Governments all round the globe look for new, creative ways to gouge their citizens (and others).  As Reuters so eloquently put it, "...the French are looking at ways of curbing legal tax avoidance..."  What?  Now we aren't even able to LEGALLY minimize our tax?  Where will it end?