Disruption

Journalism usage fees face next test in California Senate

The Assembly passed it on a bipartisan 55-6 vote, but it has received heavy opposition from the tech industry.
California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, addressing fellow lawmakers at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, June 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other online giants that display or link to news content would have to pay “journalism usage fees” to media companies under a measure the California Assembly passed Thursday just before a key deadline.

But despite the bipartisan 55-6 vote, it is unclear how much momentum the California Journalism Preservation Act, as the bill is titled, will carry over into the Senate, where it is likely to be amended and will face another barrage of opposition.

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