Google is upping its links to California news sites ahead of a pending news-centric bill.
The bill, known as the California Journalism Protection Act (CJPA), would require Google to pay for its news content.
Jafar ZaidiGoogle’s vice president of global news partnerships, wrote in a blog entry on Friday (April 12) that the tech giant “short term test The company is targeting a small number of users in California to find out how the proposed legislation would affect its products.
“Pending clarity on California’s regulatory environment, we are also making further investments in the California news ecosystem, including new partnerships through Google News Showcase, our product and licensing programs for news organizations, and plans to expand the Google News Initiative. Pause,” Zaidi said. I have written.
“Let me be clear: We believe CJPA is undermining California news,” he added. “We do not take these decisions lightly,” he said, and he wanted to avoid “an outcome where all parties lose and California’s news industry deteriorates even further.”
buffy wicksCalifornia lawmakers who support the CJPA told Bloomberg News last week that they intend to continue conversations with Google.
“This is the next bill. basic fairness — it’s about ensuring platforms pay for the content they reuse,” she said. “We are committed to continuing negotiations with Google and all other stakeholders to ensure a brighter future for California journalists and ensure the light of our democracy remains lit. Masu.”
As PYMNTS wrote last year, the bill would require tech giants like Google and Meta to pay publishers “journalistic royalties” if they use local news content and sell advertising to accompany it. , publishers will also be required to invest. 70% of profit From the rewards of journalism work.
The bill has the support of the 800-member California News Publishers Association (CNPA), which advocates for quality journalism, freedom of the press, and fair compensation for locally produced news.
Meanwhile, Mehta said he would delete the news Facebook and Instagram If the bill is passed and you are forced to pay it.
If passed, the CPJA would create a “slush fund” that would benefit major media companies, but Meta would refuse to pay for it, according to a statement from the company shared on social media last year. It is said that it will become.
“This bill recognizes that publishers and broadcasters are putting their own content on our platforms, and that the substantial consolidation of California’s local news industry occurred more than 15 years ago, long before Facebook was widely used. “This bill does not recognize that this has happened,” the statement said.