Texas Bill, Meta Nick, and the scary dolphins going after Google

This week's Content Aware brings you California axing news support, The Atlantic's success, and the sunset of Google's ad empire.

Published: 15:12, 29 May 2025

Corbidge comments on... how not to save the internet
Ex-Meta-ite Sir Nick Clegg has come down from the high castle on the side of those who wish to harvest the web's data without hindrance, just as the UK debates whether copyright on original work should have an "opt in" or an "opt out" against invasive crawling by AIs for "training". Our ever-diplomatic Rob discusses whether Clegg's position is about protecting innovation, or Big Tech's leverage over the web.
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In the age of AI, search might be making a comeback
Is Search dead and getting buried in the sea of ads, dominated by brands, driven more by budgets than by usefulness? Search Engine Land ponders whether Search is on the brink of extinction or slowly making a comeback as something useful, authentic and valuable.
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Hard traffic truths
SEO sorcerer Barry Adams is the go-to man for all things Google News. In assessing the impact of the company's new AI Mode for news, he warns bluntly that "publishers need to focus on audience strategies that exclude Google as a reliable source". It's as simple and as daunting as that.
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Texas takes on tech
In a move trumpeted as a win for parental control and child safety, Texas has passed a bill which mandates age verification for app store downloads and purchases. How does this effect you? It means millions of users potentially having to share sensitive personal information to prove who they are, and potentially a whole bunch of new user journeys to think about - such as how a user gets permission from a parent. Expect the app stores to handle most of the work - but we all know this rarely means zero work for those making apps and it will inevitably make app submission more complex.
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AI showdown: Reps vs Senate
A US House of Representatives bill to impose a decade-long moratorium on state-level AI regulations resurfaces America's national divide on the best way to govern the rapidly growing sector of technology. The argument of unified federal regs against state-level regs is common across many aspects of US law-making so it is unlikely to be resolved soon. Maybe that is the idea...
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Hungry Google versus Hungarian Dolphins
Hungarian publisher Like Company is engaged in the first AI copyright test case in the Court of Justice of the European Union against Google. They claim that Google Gemini, when prompted, produced a summary from an article about dolphins which could only have come from their content. Now the CJEU must rule on whether dolphin-centric content theft has occurred. Read it if only to learn the legal definition of a chatbot!
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Meta's day of reckoning looms
The hearing stage of the US antitrust trial against Meta has concluded. Now, Judge James Boasberg must rule on whether Meta's acquisition, as the US Federal Trade Commission claims, of WhatsApp and Instagram in the “personal social networking services” space broke US monopoly laws. If he does decide so, then he'll rule on how the harms should be remedied.
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UK creators fight AI copyright plan
Creators say the UK government's approach to AI regulation risks undermining one of the nation's most valuable industries, arguing that allowing AI companies to use copyrighted works without compensation or transparency is giving a green light for intellectual property theft. The logical next question is: if AI cripples the creative industry, which one is next?
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Google's AI Mode: gateway into a walled garden
Even though Google insists it will continue to drive traffic to websites outside its platform, its new AI Mode seems more like a fortress designed to keep users inside Google's ecosystem rather than sending them elsewhere. SEO champion Lily Ray shares thoughts.
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California slashes local news fund
The recent changes in the state funding for California's pioneering newsroom initiative, followed by Google cutting its own contribution, is yet another blow to local journalism at a time when it's needed most. The original deal was a landmark and very much needed to stop the shrinking of a vital sector of democracy and a lifeline to communities losing access to credible, local reporting.
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How The Atlantic cracked the subscriber code
The Atlantic's success story highlights a crucial shift in digital journalism, the focus is now on quality, engagement, and flexible subscription models. Their strategic use of onboarding, dynamic pricing, and diversified content offerings shows how legacy media can thrive in a challenging landscape, and set an example for other publishers who aim to build a sustainable and loyal audience.
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BBC History's digital revival
By expanding beyond print and embracing new formats, BBC History has shown how legacy brands can successfully blend tradition with innovation. While balancing quality content and modern consumption habits, History has managed to reach a wider audience while also maintaining their trust and authority. Press Gazette digs deeper.
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Google's Ad empire on trial
The dismantling of the Google empire is a historic reset for the entire digital economy, something that goes far beyond regulatory housekeeping. Ricky Sutton discusses what comes next.
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The final cut: the decline of film criticism in newsrooms
The decline of traditional journalism has started an avalanche, to no one's surprise, and one of the things that got almost completely buried under the AI slop is film criticism. Richard Roeper chatted with Editor and Publisher about the shift in newsrooms, sustaining cultural journalism despite budget cuts and changing audience habits.
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