“(T)his bill would force digital platforms to pay media giants like Fox News that peddle disinformation,” the petition reads. The bill, AB886, would require companies like Facebook, Google and Microsoft to pay a “journalism usage fee” to news organizations. Chamber of Progress argues that because Fox News stories are so popular on Facebook, the company would benefit much more than local California outlets from the bill. “We know that California residents overall care about the local news that’s in their communities,” Barsotti said. Wicks brushed off the argument that the bill would primarily benefit large news companies and pointed out that many small news organizations in California support the measure.

Source: Fox News June 23, 2023 00:50 UTC