Facebook and Instagram will block all news articles in California if state lawmakers pass a bill meant to funnel money from the tech platforms to media organizations, a Meta spokesman threatened on Wednesday.
The California Journalism Preservation Act would essentially tax the advertising profits platforms make from distributing news articles. Under the measure, some 70% of the money collected from the so-called “usage fee” would support newsrooms throughout the state.
The bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, a Democrat who represents Oakland, argues the measure could provide a “lifeline” to local news organizations that have seen advertising revenue plunge.
