Gavin Newsom to decide on bill fining tech giants for promoting violent content

A California plan to fine large social media companies that intentionally amplify violent or extremist content is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk after clearing the state Senate on Thursday, potentially teeing up another legal battle with Big Tech over free speech rights. Why it matters: Democratic state Sen. Henry Stern’s SB 771 comes after Meta and X relaxed content moderation and rolled back fact-checking amid criticism from President Donald Trump and Republican allies that such policies have dampened conservative voices. Critics have argued this allowed violent, hateful and extremist content targeting minorities and other vulnerable groups to flourish on...