The collection of personaldata is becoming pervasive due to increasingly sophisticated technology which is becoming universally available at a low cost.
France, seeking fresh ways to raise funds and frustrated that American technology companies that dominate its digital economy are largely beyond the reach of French fiscal authorities, has proposed a new levy: an Internet tax on the collection of personaldata.
"We're all interested in the collection and application of personaldata and its consequences for individual rights and social science concepts such as trust and discrimination, " said Dr Ball.