They want the links, they just want Google/Meta to pay them for that courtesy too.

Their claim is that even just the headlines are beneficial for Google/Meta as it powers their content feed and thus they want to be paid for it. They’re jealous Google/Meta make more money being a link aggregator than the news themselves and they want a share of it.

It’s a weird issue because Google does benefit from it in some way, but that’s also contrary to how it’s always been done and how the Internet works. Google’s still just an index that helps people find what they’re looking for. It’s a value added service.

But the worst of that bill is that it’s basically up to the government’s discretion and aimed specifically at extracting money out of big tech, and it’s inherently unfair. Either you require payment and the entire Internet explodes, or you don’t. Specifically targetting those that can afford to pay is… unfair, despite big tech being an actual problem.