Google today temporarily removed content by California-based news outlets from its Search platform in some state residents’ browsers, retaliating against proposed legislation in the state – the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) – that would require Big Tech platforms, including Google and Meta, to pay news publishers a “journalism usage fee” for use of news publisher content on its platforms.
In response to Google’s removal of news in California, News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey stated:
“Google’s move to withhold access to critical content is antithetical to their advocacy around open access and their mission to help people ‘find the information they are looking for.’” This is incredibly disappointing and undemocratic. It also demonstrates the real problem, one company has too much power, which the California Journalism Preservation Act, solves in part so that journalists can get paid.”
Google similarly threatened to remove news from Search in Canada when it passed the Online News Act last year, which requires the Big Tech platforms to negotiate with news publishers for compensation for use of their content.
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Members of the News/Media Alliance staff have contributed to this post.
