Google's Test: Blocking California News Links Amid Legislation Threat

Google has started removing California news websites from some users' search results as a test to measure the impact of proposed legislation that would require the search engine to pay media companies for linking to their content. The company also announced a pause on new investments in the California news industry. The bill in question aims to make tech companies pay a percentage of advertising revenue to media companies for linking to their content, with the goal of stopping the decline of journalism in California. Despite opposition from big tech companies, the bill passed the state Assembly and now awaits a vote in the California Senate.