Google Limits Access to California News Sites Amid Dispute Over Payment

Google has started blocking access to California news outlets for some users in response to proposed legislation that would require the company to pay publishers for their content. The California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) has passed the state's lower house but still needs to be taken up by the state Senate and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Google argues that the legislation would only benefit large publishers, but critics argue that it's necessary to sustain journalistic business models. The tech giant has made similar threats in other countries but ultimately followed the law. The move raises questions about the power of companies like Google and Facebook over news distribution and the role of government in regulating their influence.