Meta Threatens To Yank News Content From California Over Payments Bill

Meta announced that it would remove news content from its platform in California if the state government passes legislation requiring tech companies to pay publishers. Reuters reports: The proposed California Journalism Preservation Act would require 'online platforms' to pay a 'journalism usage fee' to news providers whose work appears on their services, aimed at reversing a decline in the local news sector. In a tweeted statement, Meta spokesman Andy Stone called the payment structure a 'slush fund' and said the bill would primarily benefit 'big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.'

The statement was Meta's first on the California bill specifically, although the company has been waging similar battles over compensation for news publishers at the federal level and in countries outside the United States.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.