French telecoms urge 'Google tax' on foreign firms

France's federation of telecommunications operators called Tuesday for the introduction of a "Google tax" on foreign firms like Google that benefit from French infrastructure.

In a statement released during a conference on digital taxation, the FTT said its members were "overtaxed" and were demanding "fiscal justice".

"Other digital players, in particular global web players... who benefit from the quality of (French) infrastructure, largely escape their fiscal responsibilities thanks to tax shelters, notably in Ireland and Luxembourg," it said.

The FTT said it was "demanding fiscal justice and equality for all players, national or global," working in France.

French lawmakers last year rejected plans for a proposed tax on online advertising revenues, fearing the project would hurt small local companies more than global Internet giants.

(c) 2012 AFP