Stories from California-based news organizations will not be available for an unspecified number of state residents who use Google to search the web, in a show of its might as Google attempts to quash a proposal it has been fighting for years.
Google has been resisting the bill in California that would force tech companies to pay publishers for news content, arguing that being subject to what it calls 'a link tax' for connecting California residents with news articles is 'unworkable'.
According to Zaidi, the blackout of California news articles is in anticipation of the bill passing. He said the move was temporary and would affect 'a small percentage of California users.'
Google and Meta have developed a playbook in response to efforts requiring the tech giant to financially support the ailing news industry. In Canada, Google threatened to pull all news links after a law requiring compensation to media outlets, but ultimately reached a deal.
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