Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

Meta threatens to pull out news content from California if bill passes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 1 Jun 2023 11:52
3 Min Read

Meta says it will pull news from Facebook and Instagram in California to avoid paying taxes if If the Journalism Preservation Act passes.

  • x
  • A 3D printed Meta logo is placed in front of a stock graph, November 2 2021. (Reuters)
    A 3D printed Meta logo is placed in front of a stock graph, November 2 2021. (Reuters)

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned that it will eliminate news links from its platforms in California if state legislators proceed with a bill that seeks to impose a tax on news content, according to a report by Axios.

Meta previously took action in response to a similar situation in Australia, as the company temporarily pulled news from Facebook in 2021 due to an Australian law mandating payment for news content. However, Meta restored access after the government agreed to modify certain aspects of the legislation.

The Australian experience demonstrated the severe impact of such actions, with news traffic in the country experiencing a significant decline during the short-term ban. To preempt regulatory challenges, Meta has gradually shifted its algorithms and products away from news in recent years. Consequently, news publishers in the United States have observed a substantial reduction in traffic, making efforts to draw payment for news content less compelling.

Under the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act, Meta and its competitor Google would be required to pay a tax to the state based on advertising revenues generated from news content. The funds collected would be allocated to local newsrooms in California.

Meta responded to the bill stating, "If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers."

Related News

US travel industry loses $1B amid prolonged government shutdown

Trump open to attending Gaza ceasefire deal ceremony in ME: Rubio

California lawmakers argue that technology platforms should bear the responsibility of assisting local news outlets, which have suffered significant financial losses in the internet age. The bill emphasizes the crucial role played by journalism in providing essential information to Californians and supports the idea that publishers should receive fair compensation for their content.

On the other hand, Meta says that the bill fails to acknowledge that publishers and broadcasters willingly share their content on its platform. Additionally, the company argues that the consolidation within California's news industry occurred prior to the widespread use of Facebook, as stated in a Twitter post by a Meta spokesperson.

Big tech vs governments

Meta and Google have been at odds with world governments who seek to mandate payment to publishers for content displayed on their platforms.

France became the first European Union member state to enact a copyright law in 2019, requiring Meta and Google to compensate publishers unless they reach independent distribution agreements.

The success of this measure, along with the Australian law enacted in 2021, has spurred other countries like Canada and New Zealand to consider similar legislation, though these bills have not yet come into law.

In the United States, a bipartisan group in Congress reintroduced an antitrust bill focused on journalism in March, mirroring the ongoing debate in California. Despite being presented for the fourth time in four years, the bill has repeatedly failed at the national level, partly due to lawmakers' inability to reach a consensus on the criteria for determining eligible publishers deserving of payment.

  • United States
  • Facebook
  • anti-trust
  • Google
  • US
  • California
  • Meta
  • Media Outlets

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
Al-Quds Brigades strike a command and control center north of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in an undated screengrab from the al-Quds Brigades military media

Gaza resistance announces major operations against Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS