Meta may withdraw news from California due to journalism bill.
Meta Threatens to Pull News from Facebook and Instagram in California
“If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers,” Meta spokesman Andy Stone said in a statement.
Meta has threatened to pull news from Facebook and Instagram in California if state lawmakers pass legislation forcing social media companies to negotiate funding agreements with state news outlets. The California Journalism Preservation Bill, which would charge a “journalism usage fee” to large platforms like Facebook and Instagram, is expected to receive a vote in the State Assembly this week. The revenue would then be used to support newsroom journalists, and the specific payments would be determined through arbitration. The bill passed through committee last month and will need to be approved by the Assembly and Senate before going to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for his signature.
Similar Threats Made in Other Countries and by Congress
Meta has made similar threats to countries considering related legislation. The company said it would stop sharing news in Canada due to pending legislation forcing social platforms to share more profits with journalism outlets. Congress is considering a similar bill in the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. The bill was pushed through the Judiciary Committee last term but failed to pass due to disagreements about amendments. Meta made similar threats over the JCPA.
Reversal of News Ban in Australia
The company banned sharing and viewing news stories in Australia after the country passed a law requiring the Big Tech giant to pay news outlets for their content. The ban was reversed within days after international pressure.
Conclusion
It remains to be seen whether Meta will follow through on its threat to pull news from Facebook and Instagram in California. However, the company’s stance on funding agreements with state news outlets is clear, and it has made similar threats in other countries and in Congress. As the debate over the role of Big Tech in supporting journalism continues, it is likely that Meta’s actions will be closely watched by lawmakers and media outlets alike.
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