Culture

Time to tax email?

April 29, 2009
Spam: a stupefying supply without a demand
Spam: a stupefying supply without a demand

By any measure, the global statistics on spam email are staggering: with some 200 billion junk emails sent every day, they now constitute more than 90 per cent of all global email traffic. Isn't this, though, just an irritating but inevitable fact of digital life? Not necessarily, argues Edward Gottesman in his lead Opinion piece for this month's issue. Although it's a controversial move—and one derided by many tech-savvy critics—Gottesman makes the case that a small tax on email would be both feasible and beneficial if organised through ISPs along the lines of existing billing plans for text messages and internet access. A much-needed remedy to the rampant abuse by an opportunistic minority of email as a medium, or an unworkable and discriminatory scheme? As ever, let us know your own thoughts below.