Google blocks links to California news sites

A proposed rule that would require big web platforms to pay a charge for using journalism is being opposed by the tech giant

Google has responded to a plan that would force tech companies to pay publishers for shared article links by temporarily blocking links from local news sites in California from showing up in search results. Uncertainty surrounds the precise number of users in California impacted by the change.

The California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) suggests charging major online publishers a “journalism usage fee” in exchange for their links to California news websites. In order for the bill to become law, it must pass the California assembly in 2023, the senate, and be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Google’s head of global news partnerships, Jaffer Zaidi, disclosed in a blog post on Friday that the company was experimenting removing connections to local news for a “small percentage” of its California customers in advance of the bill’s possible passing.

“We don’t make these decisions lightly and aim to be transparent with California publishers, lawmakers, and our users,” he said. “To prevent a situation where everyone loses, and the California news industry suffers, we encourage lawmakers to consider a different approach.”

Google will also halt “additional investments in the California news ecosystem,” the blog post stated, removing California publications from its Google News Showcase feature. This feature curates stories into a streamlined feed to increase traffic to publishers.

In May 2023, Meta announced in response to the California legislation that it would have to remove news content from Facebook and Instagram “rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies.” However, the company has not yet taken action on these statements and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The California bill aims to support the local journalism industry, which has suffered significant setbacks in recent decades, partly due to the emergence of social media and other online news sources. However, advocates for media equity argue that the legislation is misguided and could disproportionately benefit larger publishers over smaller outlets, which are facing more severe challenges.

A study by Free Press Action, a media-reform advocacy group, found in a November report that over 80% of the websites that would benefit from the reimbursement mandated by the bill are owned by just 20 major firms. Media conglomerates such as News Corp and Gannett are likely to benefit from the proposed measure, according to the study. As a result, major social media companies have strongly opposed the legislation.

“It’s a conflict between Google and corporate media, and ultimately, it’s the residents of California who are suffering,” said Mike Rispoli, senior director at Free Press Action. “It highlights the significant challenges facing local news today when the creation and accessibility of news are controlled by these large corporations that prioritize their own interests.”

The California bill is the latest in a series of challenges to big tech firms regarding their impact on news publishers. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, have faced similar legislation in Australia and Canada. The situation escalated in Canada when Meta disabled news services in the country in 2023, during a wildfire crisis. The restriction on news links in Canada is still in effect.

Meta has further reduced its news services in Australia following the passage of a 2021 bill that compelled social media companies to compensate publishers for content shared on their platforms. In March, Meta intensified its confrontation with lawmakers in Australia by announcing it would cease payments to publishers for content.

Similar legislation is under review in Illinois. The Journalism Preservation Act, introduced in February 2024, would mandate that social media companies pay a fee based on the frequency with which they link to a news outlet’s content each month.