August 23, 2024 – According to Politico, Google has reached an agreement with California legislators, committing to provide $250 million in funding to news organizations across the state. This move is aimed at averting the passage of a potentially damaging state bill.
The report indicates that 180millionofthefundswillbeallocatedtoCalifornianewsmedia,excludingbroadcastingcompanies,whiletheremaining70 million will be invested in artificial intelligence resources to bolster the workforce. The initiative is slated to commence sometime in 2025.
The bill under consideration, known as the California Journalism Protection Act (CJPA), proposes that companies like Meta and Google pay publishers in the state a total of $13.9 billion annually.
In response, Google has conducted tests to remove links to California news websites, emphasizing that the CJPA “could significantly impact our product experience.”
California State Senate leader Mike McGuire expressed concerns about funding disparities in a statement to Politico, stating that the agreement “does not fully address the inequalities facing the industry.”
