Google and Meta Threaten to Cut Off Links to California News Over Proposed Legislation Requiring Payments to Publishers

Google temporarily blocking links to California news outlets from search results for some users in response to proposed legislation requiring tech companies to pay publications for links
Bill would require large online platforms to pay a "journalism usage fee" for linking to California-based news sites
Google suspending "further investments in the California news ecosystem" and cutting state publications from Google News Showcase
Meta threatening to remove news content from Facebook and Instagram rather than pay into "slush fund" benefiting big media companies
Legislation meant to support local journalism industry gutted by rise of social media, but could disproportionately benefit larger publishers over smaller outlets