alt Hacker NewsIt's blackmail/extortion. The act of paying the money is the bribe. Here is the Wikipedia definition.
> Bribery is the corrupt solicitation, payment, or acceptance of a private favor (a bribe) in exchange for official action.[1][2] The purpose of a bribe is to influence the actions of the recipient, a person in charge of an official duty, to act contrary to their duty and the known rules of honesty and integrity.
Bribes are optional in countries with taxes. In countries without taxes, they are mandatory.
You’re splitting hairs and fail to see the bigger picture.