Google Protests California News Payments Bill by Blocking Local News Outlets

In a recent development, Google has started blocking California-based news outlets in protest of a pending bill. This bill, if passed, is expected to provide much-needed support to the struggling news industry. Google’s decision to block local news outlets is seen as a strong statement against the proposed legislation.

The bill aims to ensure fair compensation for news publishers whose content is shared on online platforms like Google. Supporters argue that the bill is necessary to sustain the news industry, which has been severely impacted by the shift to digital media.

However, Google contends that the bill could have unintended consequences. The company argues that it already contributes to the news industry through traffic referrals and ad revenue. It also points out that news publishers voluntarily choose to make their content available on Google’s platform.

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