ROB BONTA
Google, Meta, TikTok sue to block California youth social media law
The law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits such platforms from offering underage children "psychologically exploitative features" that could lead to compulsive use, such as providing personal recommendations and sending videos through autoplay features. It also requires the deletion of children's accounts with those features.
Trump's Supreme Court winning streak in election cases screeches to a halt
The US Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump's bid to stop California from counting more than 20,000 mail-in ballots ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections. The swift ruling marks another setback for the administration in recent election-related cases, following decisions on mail-in voting restrictions and Republican-backed congressional redistricting efforts.
Strong majority of voters believes Trump is failing at home and abroad: AP-NORC poll
Federal authorities are investigating suspicious mailings received by congressional and election offices across the country. With Election Day approaching, the mailings are deemed potentially hazardous by law enforcement. In time, US President Trump plans to host rallies in support of Republican candidates in Iowa. Candidates are also navigating fundraising challenges as the midterm elections draw near. The political landscape appears increasingly competitive with various races across states tight.
CNN’s new era begins as Skydance brings two news giants under one roof
Skydance has completed its acquisition of CNN, raising questions about the network's editorial independence. Mark Thompson will continue as editor-in-chief, while new governance structures are under consideration. Critics worry that corporate ownership may influence news coverage and reporting standards over time. Skydance's relationship with political figures, particularly Donald Trump, adds another layer of complexity to its news operations. Discussions about maintaining journalistic integrity are ongoing as the merger progresses.
Inside Hollywood's biggest plot twist: How Paramount closed $110 billion Warner Bros deal to create Skydance
Paramount Skydance finalized its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery for $110 billion after a prolonged bidding war. Following the merger, shares of Skydance began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker 'SKYD'. The deal faced scrutiny and opposition from various Hollywood figures and state attorneys general concerned about job losses. Regulators permitted the transaction despite legal challenges, including lawsuits from the Writers Guild of America.
California attorney general opens probe into OpenAI over cybersecurity concerns
Last month, Bonta announced that the Department of Justice was conducting a formal investigation into the "Hugging Face incident," amid increasing scrutiny of the AI industry.
Paramount Skydance settles with 12 states, clearing hurdle to $110 billion Warner Bros deal
Paramount Skydance has settled with California and 11 other states that sued to block its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, removing a major US antitrust hurdle to the deal. Under the settlement, CNN and CBS would get independent editorial boards, while Paramount would face a $30 million penalty per film for falling short of its commitment to release 30 movies annually. The deal still faces remaining regulatory and closing steps, with Paramount also seeking to avoid a $7 million-a-day fee tied to delays beyond September 30.
Paramount, states could settle Warner Bros. $110 billion deal challenge this weekend, sources say
Paramount and several states are nearing a settlement regarding the Warner Bros. acquisition. Discussions include independent content monitoring for CNN and the number of theatrical releases. This potential agreement could resolve a significant hurdle for Paramount's expansion plans. Paramount faces a daily fee until the deal officially closes. The acquisition aims to create a major competitor in the streaming and film industry.
H-1B fee hike: Trump plan could push cost above $200,000
A proposed $103,265 fee for H-1B petitions could raise sponsorship costs significantly. Indian professionals, who dominate H-1B approvals, may face substantial financial impacts. This new charge is separate from a previously proposed $100,000 payment still under litigation. The Department of Homeland Security expects billions in revenue from this proposed fee. Employers in technology and healthcare sectors express concerns about hiring specialized talent.
Amazon sued by US FTC, 22 states over alleged $20 billion ad auction overcharges
The US FTC and 22 states have sued Amazon, alleging it manipulated digital advertising auctions and overcharged about 1.2 million customers by more than $20 billion. Amazon rejected the allegations as misguided and flawed. The lawsuit targets Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display, intensifying scrutiny of the tech giant.
Judge likely to deny California's bid to stop Amazon's alleged price fixing
Bonta sued Amazon in 2022, accusing the company of dominating online retail with anticompetitive tactics that raise prices for consumers.
Meta settlement puts social media industry on notice: 'There will be more'
Wednesday's historic settlement between Meta and dozens of US states could be just the start of a wave that will ripple across the social media industry, putting TikTok, YouTube and Snap under pressure to make similar changes to their apps for teens. "I hope that Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube will read the writing on the wall and enter into similar settlements," Lopez said in a statement.
California cancels talks over $110 billion Paramount-Warner deal, citing ‘bad faith’
California Attorney General Rob Bonta canceled settlement talks with Paramount Skydance over its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, accusing the company of leaking and misrepresenting confidential discussions. Paramount denied the allegation and said it remains ready to negotiate. The lawsuit remains a key obstacle to completing the deal.
Paramount-Warner Bros merger: California may seek cable channel divestitures, film studio safeguards
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is expected to seek concessions from Paramount, including divestitures of some cable channels and safeguards keeping its movie studio separate from Warner Bros., before approving their proposed merger. California officials and Paramount are set to meet Monday to discuss potential settlement terms in the state’s antitrust lawsuit.
Paramount seeks $1.88 billion bond from US state AGs over merger lawsuit
Paramount Skydance requested a bond from states challenging its Warner Bros Discovery merger. The company faces significant daily fees if the deal does not close by September 30. Legal challenges threaten the $110 billion acquisition, which requires regulatory approval. California and eleven states argue the merger would create a media monopoly. Paramount seeks to recover potential losses from the ongoing legal proceedings.
California builds AI oversight unit and presses on xAI investigation
The California Attorney General's office moved quickly last month to send a cease-and-desist letter to xAI, as regulators globally investigated the company over sexualized content that its AI chatbot Grok produced of adults and potentially minors, Rob Bonta said.
Trump’s H-1B changes face legal scrutiny in California
California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has expressed concerns over the Trump administration's decision. The decision involves imposing a $100,000 application fee on H-1B visas. Bonta believes this move could negatively impact California's economy. He is reviewing the legality of the fee. The review will determine if it violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
California sues Exxon over global plastic pollution
A coalition of environmental groups including the Sierra Club filed a related lawsuit in that court against Exxon on Monday raising similar allegations. Bonta, a Democrat, said his office specifically had sought information on Exxon's promotion of its "advanced recycling" technology, which uses a process called pyrolysis to turn hard-to-recycle plastic into fuel.
Google reaches $93 million privacy settlement with California
Google has agreed to pay $93 million to settle a lawsuit in California that accused the company of misleading consumers about its location tracking practices. The settlement resolves claims that Google deceived people into thinking they had control over how their personal data was collected and used.
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