Google Removes Links to Some California News Sites to Protest Fee Proposal

Google Removes Links to Some California News Sites to Protest Fee Proposal
The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 7, 2017. Mike Blake/Reuters
Jana J. Pruet
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Google has begun removing California news websites from search results for some users in response to a state proposal that would require the search giant to pay media companies for linking to their content.

The tech giant announced the move in a blog post on Friday, calling it a “short-term test for a small percentage of users ... to measure the impact of the legislation on our product experience.” Google said it would also pause new investments in the California news industry, including its partnership initiative with news outlets and its product licensing program.

Jana J. Pruet
Jana J. Pruet
Author
Jana J. Pruet is an award-winning investigative journalist. She covers news in Texas with a focus on politics, energy, and crime. She has reported for many media outlets over the years, including Reuters, The Dallas Morning News, and TheBlaze, among others. She has a journalism degree from Southern Methodist University. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]