Google Tests Removing Links to California News Websites in Response to Legislation Threat
In a bold move, Google announced on Friday that it had begun testing the removal of California news websites from some users’ search results. This test serves as a warning to the state Legislature, which is considering a bill that would require tech giants like Google to pay media companies for linking to their content.
The search giant stated that this test is a “short-term test for a small percentage of users” to gauge the impact of potential legislation on their product experience. Google also revealed that it would halt new investments in the California news industry, including partnership initiatives with news organizations and product licensing programs.
The bill in question aims to address the decline in journalism jobs and would require tech companies to pay a percentage of advertising revenue to media companies for linking to their content. Supporters argue that this legislation would level the playing field between news publishers and digital platforms, providing a lifeline to struggling local news organizations.
However, opponents, including Google, argue that the bill is a “link tax” that would primarily benefit out-of-state newspaper chains and hedge funds. Google’s vice president of news, Richard Gingras, emphasized the significant contributions the company already makes to support local journalism, including financial grants and training programs for local publications.
The political wrangling over Google’s search engine dominance comes amidst legal challenges that could potentially impact the company’s internet empire. As the debate continues, the future of news distribution and the relationship between tech giants and media companies hang in the balance.