Google removing links to California news websites as part of test in response to pending legislation

Comments

• SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Now California needs to block Google at all government buildings and schools to make it interesting

  source
• Brkdncr@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I love this type of response to bad legislation.

  source

  • tal@lemmy.today ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I don’t.

    I mean, I agree with Google insofar as that nobody should have to pay a fee to be able to link to something on the Internet.

    But I don’t really think that this is the right way to do it. The only reason Google can counter like this is because the news sites who got the legislation through need Google News badly enough. If Google News weren’t that important, they could have done this.

    Google can do this because they’re big and important. And I think that Google is right. But Google isn’t right because they’re big and important.

    I’d much rather have the ability to link to something simply be recognized as a First Amendment-protected right by SCOTUS. Like, it shouldn’t be permissible to block someone from or charge them to link to something.

    source

    • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      It’s literally their only response to legislation like this.

      The legislation is based on the core concept that linking to a site is stealing from them. Therefore, choosing to stop stealing from them is simply doing the right thing. It’s doing exactly what they’re asking for.

      “Linking to me is stealing, but you’re required to link to me” is not a valid position.

      source