Internet porn tax mooted

A democratic lawmaker is hoping that a 25 per cent tax on internet porn will suddenly stop kids looking at the stuff.

Called the Internet Safety and Child Protection Act of 2005, the bill also proposes new rules for Web sites to verify they do business only with adults. It would compel sites to use specialized software to verify a customer's age. It will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

Since it is a state law, all the pornsters will have to do to avoid paying it, is to shift their businesses to another country.

However, it looks like the law, like many which have been before it, is destined to run aground in the courts on free speech grounds. It could be seen as a tax on people who say things that law makers disagree with, which is pretty much, against those amendments in the constitution against that sort of stuff.