iAWFUL (www.iAWFUL.com) - A NetChoice Initiative

Reckless and misguided laws, often originating at the state level, threaten to undermine the foundation of the free and open Internet. Some of the most serious threats to the Internet come in the form of lawmakers trying to 'fix' it.

Knee-jerk, overly prescriptive laws can destroy whole business models or stifle innovative new forms of communication before they have a chance to emerge. Too many laws are proposed without considering unintended harm they may cause to thousands of Internet companies and millions of Internet users.

NetChoice is dedicated to fighting these attacks on core Internet principles. Through this site, the Internet Advocates' Watchlist For Ugly Laws (iAWFUL) will track dangerous legislation and mobilize citizens to defeat bills and proposals that threaten the future of ecommerce and online communication. The list will be continually updated to reflect the most immediate dangers, based on regulatory severity and likelihood of passage.

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 I-AWFUL (Internet Advocates' Watchlist for Ugly Laws) is a NetChoice Initiative Dedicated to Tracking the Worst Internet Laws in America

 

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NetChoice Identifies the Worst Proposed Internet Laws in America.

 

The iAWFUL Top Ten: Click On Any Bubble To Learn More About the Laws That Threaten Your Use of the Internet

 

 

The August 2009 iAWFUL Top Ten

  1. Maine Predatory Marketing Law (10 MRSA c.1055) - What's AWFUL? Creates an unprecedented prohibition on collecting information about and marketing to teenagers.
  2. Hotel Taxes on Online Travel Companies - What's AWFUL? Travel sites are being threatened with wrong tax rate in the wrong jurisdiction.
  3. New Jersey Social Networking Bill (A 3757) – What’s AWFUL? It turns social networking sites into social networking police.
  4. New iTunes Taxes Without Legislation – What’s AWFUL? Discriminates against goods and services sold online versus offline.
  5. North Carolina Digital Downloads Tax Bill (HB 558/S 487) – What’s AWFUL? Discourages the Greenest Way to Purchase Music and Other Content.
  1. North Carolina Tickets Bill (SB 99) – What’s AWFUL? Taxes the Internet (and only the Internet) resale of tickets.
  2. Federal Bills on Organized Retail Crime – What’s AWFUL? They create extraordinary burdens on online marketplaces.
  3. Massachusetts Online Advertising Bill – What’s AWFUL? It threatens the viability of new business models on the Web.
  4. North Carolina Advertising Nexus Proposal – What’s AWFUL? Unconstitutionally expands sales tax burdens to out-of-state businesses.
  5. New York Online Employment Services Taxation Issue – What’s AWFUL? Discriminates against Internet services.

 

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