Alliance of News Publishers Urges Federal Investigation into Google

The News/Media Alliance is calling for a federal investigation into Google’s decision to limit links to California news outlets in its search results. The alliance, representing publishers in the news and magazine industry, believes Google’s actions may be coercive or retaliatory in response to the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA).

The CJPA would require tech companies like Google to pay news publishers for advertising alongside news content. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice, News/Media Alliance Chief Executive Danielle Coffey urged regulators to look into whether Google is violating federal law by impeding access to news.

Google, in a blog post, expressed concerns about the bill and its potential impact on their business model. The tech giant stated that the CJPA could result in significant changes to the services offered to Californians and the traffic provided to California publishers.

News organizations in California are already facing declining revenues, with many outlets laying off staff to cut costs. The bill would require news outlets to pay a percentage of the revenue gained back to their staff, with smaller outlets paying a smaller percentage.

Governor Gavin Newsom has not taken a position on the CJPA but is engaging with lawmakers on the issue. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who introduced the bill, had a constructive conversation with Newsom’s staff about AB 886.

The outcome of the federal investigation and the fate of the CJPA will have significant implications for the future of journalism in California and the relationship between tech giants like Google and news publishers.