The next EU proposal to make online content providers contribute to the cost of digital infrastructure will include the growing volumes of data used by the metaverse and virtual worlds, according to a letter obtained by EURACTIV.

The letter, signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and dated December 22, 2022, is a response to Renew MEP Valerie Hayer, who in September coordinated another letter endorsing the so-called “fair share” and calls for rapid progress.

The ‘fair share’, also known as the sender pays principle, is based on the argument of the big European telecom operators that online platforms like Netflix and Google do not contribute enough to network costs while get most of the benefits of digital technology…