Google has reached out to California lawmakers to support local news in the state after previously protesting a proposed law that would have required it to pay media outlets. Under the terms of the agreement, Google will commit tens of millions of dollars to a fund supporting local news and AI “acceleration programs” in the state.
The agreement ends a months-long dispute between lawmakers and Google over the California Journalism Preservation Act, a bill that would require Google, Meta and other major platforms to pay California publishers to link to their websites. Google strongly opposed the move, which was similar to laws passed in Canada and Australia.
Earlier this year, Google started “” in the state that removed links to local news from some California users. The company also stopped some of its use in local affairs in the state.
Now, under a new agreement, Google will direct “at least $55 million” to a “non-profit charity housed at UC Berkeley’s journalism school,” Politics . The university will distribute the fund, which includes “at least $70 million” from the state of California. Google will also “contribute $50 million over five years to unspecified ‘existing journalism programs’.”
The agreement also includes funding for a “National AI Innovation Accelerator.” The details of that plan are unclear, however Cal Matters that Google will contribute “at least $17.5 million” to the effort, which will fund AI testing at local businesses and other organizations, including newsrooms. That aspect of the agreement, which is different so far from Google’s agreement in California, could end up being very controversial as it could exacerbate existing tensions between publishers and AI companies.
In , Alphabet’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, praised the “thoughtful leadership” of California Governor Gavin Newsom and other state officials in reaching the agreement. “California lawmakers have worked with the technology and media sectors to develop a collaborative framework to accelerate AI innovation and support local and state businesses and nonprofits,” he said. “This public-private partnership builds on our long history of working with journalism and the local news system in our region, while creating a national center of excellence in AI policy.”
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