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Google Removes California News Websites from Search Results as Test

By ADAM BEAM and TRÂN NGUYỄN – Associated Press

Google on Friday began removing California news websites from some people’s search results, a test that acted as a threat should the state Legislature pass a law requiring the search giant to pay media companies for linking to their content.

Google announced the move in a blog post on Friday, calling it a “short-term test for a small percentage of users … to measure the impact of the legislation on our product experience.” The company said it also would pause new investments in the California news industry, including the partnership initiative with news organizations and its product licensing program.

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The Impact of the Legislation

The California Legislature is considering a bill that would require tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft to pay a certain percentage of advertising revenue to media companies for linking to their content. How much the companies would have to pay would be decided by a panel of three judges through an arbitration process.

The bill aims to stop the loss of journalism jobs, which have been disappearing rapidly as legacy media companies have struggled to profit in the digital age. More than 2,500 newspapers have closed in the U.S. since 2005, according to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. California has lost more than 100 news organizations in the past decade, according to Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the bill’s author.

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Supporters and Opponents of the Legislation

Supporters said the legislation would help level the playing field between news publishers and large digital platforms and provide a “lifeline” to local news organizations, which rely heavily on Google’s search engine to distribute its content in the digital era. While Google’s search engine has become the hub of a digital advertisement empire that generates more than $200 billion annually, news publishers saw their advertising revenues nosedive significantly in the last few decades.

Opponents, including Google, Meta, and some independent newsrooms, call the legislation a “link tax” that would primarily benefit out-of-state newspaper chains and hedge funds and further decimate local news organizations. Richard Gingras, Google’s vice president of news, also told state lawmakers, in a hearing last December, that Google already made significant contributions to support local journalism, pointing to the tech giant’s financial grants and training to nearly 1,000 local publications in 2023, among other programs.

AI legalese decoder can help stakeholders navigate the arguments put forth by both supporters and opponents of the legislation, providing a comprehensive analysis of the potential impacts on various stakeholders in the media industry.

legal Challenges and Antitrust Concerns

The political wrangling over Google’s dominant search engine comes against the backdrop of legal trouble that could culminate in decisions that undercut the company’s internet empire. After presenting evidence to support its allegations that Google has been abusing its power to stifle competition and innovation, lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department will present their closing arguments next month in a federal court.

Following another antitrust trial that ended in December, a federal jury concluded Google had turned its app store for smartphones running on its Android software into an illegal monopoly. A hearing on the changes that Google will have to make resulting from that verdict is also scheduled to occur next month.

AI legalese decoder can provide insights into the legal challenges facing Google and its implications on the company’s business practices and market dominance. It can analyze the antitrust concerns raised by regulators and provide guidance on navigating potential regulatory actions.

Efforts to Support Local Journalism

California has attempted to boost local journalism through various initiatives, including a $25 million multiyear, state-funded program in partnership with UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Lawmakers are also considering another proposal that would expand tax credits for local news organizations this year.

Associated Press reporter Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to the report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

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