California has announced the first-ever “partnership” with Google and Meta (Facebook’s parent company) to fund local newsrooms and launch a government artificial intelligence program.

With a price tag of $250 million—$175 million from taxpayers and $55 million from Google—this program will provide direct financial support to newsrooms.

The deal emerged as a settlement between Big Tech and the state government after California Democrats threatened to impose fees on platforms that profit from news content.

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The multi-million-dollar fund will be managed by the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and disbursed to newsrooms over five years, with annual approvals required.

Critics have warned about the dangers of government and social media giants sponsoring the news.

“This is beyond Orwellian,” said Dan Schneider, the vice president of a free speech department at the Media Research Center (MRC). “With a tiny portion of its annual revenue, Google is going to use every reporter and news outlet to remake society in its own warped image.” […]