Google announced it would remove links to California news sites due to a pending state bill that would require the company to pay publishers. The bill, called the California Journalism Preservation Act, aims to change Google's business model by requiring them to pay news outlets a “journalism usage fee” when advertising is sold alongside news content.
Key Points
California Journalism Preservation Act aims to make tech companies like Google pay news outlets
Google is pausing investments in California news ecosystem in response to the bill
Critics argue the bill may favor large media conglomerates over smaller outlets
Pros
Support for struggling news outlets
Potential revenue for news publishers
Cons
Disruption to Google's business model
Potential limitations on services and partnerships