1y ago

Google removing links to California news websites as part of test in response to pending legislation

www.cnbc.com

News @lemmy.world

return2ozma @lemmy.world

1y ago

Google removing links to California news websites as part of test in response to pending legislation

www.cnbc.com /2024/04/12/google-removing-links-to-california-news-websites-after-state-bill-.html

4 comments

Now California needs to block Google at all government buildings and schools to make it interesting
I love this type of response to bad legislation.
- I don't.
  I mean, I agree with Google insofar as that nobody should have to pay a fee to be able to link to something on the Internet.
  But I don't really think that this is the best way to push back on it. The only reason Google can counter like this is because the news sites who got the legislation through need Google News badly enough. If Google News weren't that important, the media companies involved could well make this stick.
  Google can do this because they're big and important. And I think that Google is right. But Google isn't right because they're big and important.
  I'd much rather have the ability to link to something simply be recognized as a First Amendment-protected right by SCOTUS. Like, it shouldn't be permissible to block someone from linking to something or charge them to link to something.
  
  'Pay to show a link' is the way Google wants us to see this legislation. But linki are not what the news sources are fighting. The problem is Google presents the news and other information in the search result in the way that users often do not need to leave Google and foll9w the link.
  Someone produces content so people visit their się and make them money, but those users get the information they want (sometimes incomplete or broken) straight from Google and only Google gets the money. That is not fair and that is what laws like this try to fix (better or worse). But Google and such have powerful propaganda and here we are.
  Another thing is: users of services like Reddit or Lemmy also do similar thing (posting content in a way that preventing monetization at its source), so they have extra reason to take Google side.