Meta threatens news blackout in California over proposed bill.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has threatened to remove news content from its platforms if the California Journalism Preservation Act passes. The bill would require online platforms to pay a journalism usage fee to eligible digital journalism providers when they sell advertising alongside news content. Meta argues that the bill would force them to pay into a "slush fund" that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies. The bill has strong support from news advocacy groups, but industry trade organizations have expressed opposition, arguing that the money would go to large out-of-state publications rather than supporting local news. The legislation copies measures in other countries that have attempted to address the shift in digital media traffic and revenue.