[[{“value”:”As a result of a pending law requiring tech giants to pay online publishers for their content, Google partially blocked California-based news outlets for some state residents.
The California Journalism Preservation Act ( CJPA ), a pending bill in the state legislature, would establish a “link tax” that would pay Google for merely providing links to news articles for Californians. This is the bad approach to supporting journalism, we’ve been saying for a long time. If passed, CJPA may result in major changes to the services we can offer Californians and the traffic we can provide to California publishers”, Jaffer Zaidi, Google’s vice president for international news partnerships, wrote in a blog post.
” By assisting people in finding news stories, we assist publishers of all sizes in expanding their audiences at no cost to them. CJPA would upwards- end that model”, Zaidi continued.
We are beginning a short-term test for a smaller percentage of California users to prepare for potential CJPA implications. To evaluate the impact of the legislation on our product experience, Zaidi added, the testing process involves removing links to California news websites that might be covered by the CJPA.
Google Begins Blocking News From California Outlets Over State Bill https ://t.co/zRiQQBTwfD
— zerohedge ( @zerohedge ) April 13, 2024
CBS News reports:
A bill that would require tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft to pay media companies a specific percentage of their advertising revenue is being considered by the California Legislature. A panel of three judges would make the decisions regarding the amount of money the businesses would have to pay through an arbitration procedure.
The bill aims to stop the decline in journalism jobs, which have been declining swiftly as legacy media companies struggled to make money in the modern era. More than 2, 500 newspapers have closed in the U. S. since 2005, according to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. California has lost more than 100 news organizations in the past decade, according to Democrat Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the bill’s author.
This is a bill about simple fairness; it’s about making sure platforms pay for the content they reuse, Wicks said. We “remain committed to continuing discussions with Google and all other stakeholders to ensure that California journalists ‘ futures shine brighter and ensure that democracy stays on.”
Despite fierce opposition and lobbying efforts from large tech companies, the state Assembly passed the bill next year with bipartisan support. In order for it to become law, the California Senate would need to pass it after this year.
Supporters claimed that the bill would level the playing field between big digital platforms and news publishers and give regional news organizations a “lifeline” when they need to distribute their content through Google’s search engine in the digital era. News publishers ‘ advertising revenues have fallen significantly in the last few decades while Google’s search engine has grown to be the heart of a digital advertising empire that generates more than$ 200 billion annually.
Google began removing California news websites from some users ‘ search results, a test that acted as a threat if the state Legislature passed a law mandating the search giant to pay media companies for their content. https ://t.co/TJPnyNS0e I
— ABC News ( @ABC ) April 12, 2024
Faced with possibly paying for news, Google removes links to California news sites for some users https ://t.co/AF94Yvv72R
— The Associated Press ( @AP ) April 13, 2024
Google’s actions are a “political tactic the tech industry has frequently used to try to derail for bills in places like Canada and Australia where online platforms are required to pay journalism outlets for articles featured on their websites,” according to POLITICO.
Google will reduce some users access to California news sites in response Leftist efforts to seize revenue to fund left- wing” journalists” https ://t.co/V2YLYCU5eK
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton ) April 13, 2024
From POLITICO:
The most recent round of a global debate involving the future of the journalism industry in the modern era has had a greater impact in Sacramento because it is home to tech giants. According to advocates for such legislation, businesses like Google and Meta have contributed to the demonetization of now declining newsroom revenues because of their influence over online advertising, and outlets deserve compensation for content that users may see on their platforms for free.
The businesses argue that these laws could stifle important sources of information, and they have responded by attempting to preview what they claim to look like.
Prior to striking a deal with the government that, Google threatened to block content in Canada as it did with its virtual news laws. However, Meta has permanently removed news content from its Canadian social media accounts and threatened to do the same if similar legislation is proposed by Congress and California.
The company has spent more than$ 1 million to support an organization that ran an ad campaign decrying the bill as a “link tax” in California. The phrase was used by Zaidi in his blog post.”}]] [[{“value”:”
Google has temporarily blocked Californian news outlets for residents of the state as a test for the state Legislature regarding a pending bill requiring tech giants pay online publishers for content.
“A California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) bill that is pending in the state legislature of California would create a link tax, which would require Google to simply pay for connecting Californians with news articles. We have said for a long time that this is not the right way to support journalism. If CJPA is passed, it may result in significant changes in the services that we can offer Californians, and the traffic that we can provide to California Publishers,” Jaffer Zaidi wrote in a blog.
By helping people find news, we help publishers grow their audience at no cost to them. CJPA would change that model,” Zaidi continued.
“To prepare for potential CJPA implications we are starting a short-term testing for a small number of California users.” The testing process involves removing all links to California-based news websites that could be covered by CJPA to measure the impact on our product experience,” Zaidi said.
Google Begins Blocking News From California Outlets Over State Bill https://t.co/zRiQQBTwfD
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) April 13, 2024
CBS News:
California’s legislature is currently considering a bill which would require tech giants such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft pay a certain percentage to media companies in exchange for linking to their content. The amount that the companies would be required to pay would then be determined by a panel consisting of three judges in an arbitration process.
The bill is designed to stop the loss in journalism jobs that has been occurring rapidly as legacy media companies struggle to make money in the digital age. According to Northwestern University’s Medill school of journalism, more than 2,500 U.S. newspapers have closed since 2005. California has lost over 100 news organizations in the last decade, according the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks.
Wicks said: “This bill is about basic fairness – it’s about making sure that platforms pay for content they repurpose.” “We are committed in continuing negotiations with Google, and all other stakeholders, to secure a better future for California journalists, and ensure that the light of democracy remains on.”
The bill was passed by the California Assembly last year, despite strong opposition and lobbying from large tech companies. It would need to be passed by the California Senate later this year to become law.
Supporters of the legislation said it would level the playing fields between news publishers and digital platforms, and provide a lifeline to local news organizations that rely heavily on Google to distribute their content in the digital age. Google’s search engine is the hub of an advertising empire that generates over $200 billion per year. However, news publishers have seen their advertising revenue plummet in the past few decades.
Google has begun removing Californian news websites from search results for some people. This was a test to see if the state Legislature passes a law that would require the search giant pay media companies to link to their content. https://t.co/TJPnyNS0eI
ABC News (@ABC), April 12, 2024
Faced with possibly paying for news, Google removes links to California news sites for some users https://t.co/AF94Yvv72R
The Associated Press April 13, 2024
According to POLITICO’s report, Google’s actions were a “political strategy the tech industry has used repeatedly to try and derail such legislation in places like Canada or Australia that requires online platforms to pay journalists outlets for articles featured their websites.”
Google will reduce some users access to California news sites in response Leftist efforts to seize revenue to fund left-wing “journalists” https://t.co/V2YLYCU5eK
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) April 13, 2024
From POLITICO
Sacramento is the site of the latest round in a global battle over the future of journalism in the digital age. California’s battle is also noteworthy because it is home to many tech giants. The advocates of such legislation claim that companies like Google and Meta, which control digital advertising, have decimated already declining newsroom revenues. They also argue that outlets should be compensated for content users see on their platforms.
The companies countered that these laws could stifle essential sources of information – and they’ve fought against it by trying to preview what they claim that would look like.
Google had made similar threats in Canada to block content over its online news legislation, before reaching an agreement with the government. Meta, on the other hand, has permanently removed news content from its feed in Canada. It has also threatened to do so if Congress or California advances similar legislation.
In California, the company has been lobbying heavily against the measures that are currently before the California Legislature. It has channeled more than $1,000,000 to an organization which ran an ad-campaign decrying this bill as a “link fee.” Zaidi used a similar phrase in his blog.
“}]]
