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Google Temporarily Removes Links to California News Sites Amid Legislative Dispute

The tech giant's move is a test to assess the impact of a proposed bill that would require payment for news content, highlighting tensions with state lawmakers.

A view of Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California, United States on March 23, 2024.
A view of Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., on March 23, 2024. The company announced Friday that it will temporarily remove links to news websites in California for a small number of users, representing an escalation in the Bay Area tech giant’s fight with state lawmakers.
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Overview

  • Google has started a temporary test to remove links to California news sites for a small percentage of users to evaluate the effects of the California Journalism Preservation Act.
  • The bill, pushed by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, aims to make tech platforms compensate news publishers for using their content, citing fairness and the survival of local journalism.
  • Google argues that the bill could lead to decreased news quality and is an unacceptable business risk, prompting them to pause investments in the California news sector.
  • Similar legislation has led Google to take comparable actions in other regions, like Canada and Australia, where they have also temporarily blocked news links.
  • The outcome of this legislative battle could significantly impact the financial dynamics between large tech platforms and news publishers, as well as access to news for users.