HUNGARIAN plans to impose heavy new taxes on internet use came under attack from opposition parties today.

The scheme would force internet service providers to pay 150 forints (39p) for every gigabyte of data downloaded or uploaded by users.

An average household would download over 20 gigabytes per month, according to bandwidth usage monitors.

The Economy Ministry says the charges are an extension of already existing taxes on telecoms companies and will raise around 20 billion forints (£52 million) a year.

But there is no cap planned on what providers could be charged and they are likely to pass on costs to users — which the country’s Information and Communications Technology Association says will lead to a fall in internet use.

Critics calling for the plan to be scrapped have accused the government of seeking to restrict internet access.