Calif. Assembly Passes Journalism Usage Fee Bill

The California State Assembly voted 46-6 Thursday to advance legislation to require Big Tech to pay media companies usage fees when carrying news content on platforms (see 2305310069). Introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D), the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) (AB-886) is expected to pass the Senate. Meta said it would remove news content from Facebook and Instagram if the bill ultimately passes. The CJPA requires news publishers to invest 70% of the profits into hiring journalists. The News/Media Alliance is “extremely encouraged to see this progress at the state level, which shows that Americans understand the importance and value of journalism to keeping their communities safe and informed and holding those in power to account,” said CEO Danielle Coffey. The Computer & Communications Industry Association supports “a thriving news media, but cannot support a link tax,” said President Matt Schruers. “Taxes on sending internet traffic from one site to another is not a sustainable business model for any party involved, and sets a dangerous precedent for governments and carriers to impose fees on users navigating the open internet.”