Gov. Gavin Newsom is remaining quiet regarding a new bill that would create a "link tax" requiring big tech companies to pay media companies for linking to their sites. (Screenshot/NBC)
Also in 2020, Newsom partnered with Google to give away 4,000 Chromebooks and free Wi-Fi hot spots for mobile users up to 90 days with unlimited broadband internet access to 100,000 households in rural regions of the state. In 2021, Newsom signed SB 7 into law, which changed real estate zoning laws to allow denser housing construction. Alongside him was Google's president of global affairs, Kent Walker.
"To be here with Google and the incredible private sector investment and the faith and devotion to the future of this city and this region and this state is exactly where we want to be and it’s why we are here," Newsom said to reporters at the time.
However, Google said in a statement last week the proposed CJPA, in its current form, would "up-end" its model of helping publishing sites grow their audiences without financial penalties.
"As we’ve shared when other countries have considered similar proposals, the uncapped financial exposure created by CJPA would be unworkable," Google said in a statement. "If enacted, CJPA in its current form would create a level of business uncertainty that no company could accept."
The Real Facebook Oversight Board embarked on the Facebook Receipts project to expose how big tech lobbyists used power and influence to kill would-be-landmark antitrust bills. (iStock)
"This is a bill about basic fairness — it’s about ensuring that platforms pay for the content they repurpose," Wicks said. "We are committed to continuing negotiations with Google and all other stakeholders to secure a brighter future for California journalists and ensure that the lights of democracy stay on."
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However, Google argues the bill "undermines news" in the Golden State.
"To avoid an outcome where all parties lose and the California news industry is left worse off, we urge lawmakers to take a different approach," the company said.
Big tech companies have also been targeted in recent years by state officials and Republican lawmakers, who claim the Biden administration's alleged coordination with the search engine giants could unfairly impact the discourse around the 2024 election.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
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