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Gov. Gavin Newsom included no new funding for local journalism in his budget proposal last week, walking back an August 2024 deal with Google to commit $175 million over five years to help the diminishing industry.

Some teachers say that AI tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning.

A bill mandating disclosure and appeals for a wide range of AI decisions was delayed until next year for the third legislative session in a row. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to consult on the measure.

To avoid regulations, Google and California agreed to commit $45 million in one year to prop up local news outlets. The new program is starting with just half that amount.

Google and California struck a deal last year to fund local news. Now the state is pulling back some of its commitments. Google could follow suit.

The suit accuses the companies of receiving personal information through California’s state health insurance exchange.

Google, oil companies and utilities helped push California lobbying to a record $540 million in 2024, up 10% from the year before.

The tech giant spent $10.7 million lobbying the Legislature and governor from July through September during a media bill fight. It also showered elected officials with $107,500 in campaign cash on one day in September.

State lawmakers give up on bills to force tech companies to pay media outlets for using news. Instead, they agree with Google on a program to help local newsrooms and to explore artificial intelligence.

Silicon Valley's mega-platforms have been getting away with unprecedented control and profit-taking, clearly aiming to control news reporting itself. Two California bills would rightly check their power.