Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement regarding a consent decree secured with Warner Bros./Paramount to protect editorial independence of CNN and CBS News. The consent decree establishes an editorial board structure, though the AG expressed disappointment that full divestiture was not achieved.
The consent decree establishes an editorial board structure to protect editorial independence for CNN and CBS News, enforceable under the consent decree. The AG had sought full divestiture of CNN and CBS News but did not achieve it.
In-house counsel at media and entertainment companies should review merger agreements and acquisition contracts for provisions related to editorial independence and newsroom governance. The consent decree between Connecticut and Warner Bros./Paramount highlights the importance of enforceable commitments to protect editorial independence in media mergers. Companies should examine any agreements involving news organizations for clauses that preserve editorial board authority, independence from corporate influence, and compliance with consent decrees or regulatory conditions. Additionally, contracts with joint ventures or partnerships involving news entities should include clear governance structures and independence protections.
Entity
Warner Bros./Paramount
Industry
Media & Entertainment"Warner Bros./Paramount"
"Connecticut led the fight to the bitter end to protect the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News."
"we have secured an editorial board structure that will meaningfully help protect editorial independence for both news organizations, and it will be enforceable under the consent decree."
"protect the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News"
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and a 23-state coalition obtained a court ruling declaring unlawful federal immigration-enforcement conditions placed on Congressionally authorized public safety grants. The court permanently enjoined the federal government from implementing or enforcing those conditions; the release does not describe a privacy violation or monetary penalty.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong co-led a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general urging Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. This was a legislative advocacy effort, not a new enforcement action; the release discusses prior investigations into platforms’ effects on children and a separate Meta settlement.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general and two governors in opposing proposed changes to the 2030 Census. The coalition argued the proposal would exclude people from the count, remove demographic questions, and replace the usual-residence standard; this was a comment-letter action, not a penalty or enforcement order.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined attorneys general from 17 states in an amicus brief urging the New York Court of Appeals to preserve state authority to pursue fraud cases. The underlying civil case alleges that Donald Trump and his co-defendants inflated asset values to obtain better loan and insurance terms; this press release announces advocacy, not a new enforcement order or penalty.
$220.0M
Connecticut and a coalition of 36 attorneys general reached a $220 million settlement with General Motors over the collection and sale of consumers’ driving behavior and location data to data brokers and insurers without adequate disclosure or consent. The settlement requires affirmative express consent before collecting or disclosing driving and location data, limits data collection, and imposes privacy program assessments and dealership oversight and training.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and 13 other attorneys general sent Meta a letter after the No Kings Coalition’s Instagram account was mistakenly suspended during a nationwide election-related day of action. The letter asks Meta to explain the suspension, its use of human review, steps to prevent similar errors, and how users can seek redress; it does not announce a fine or impose a remedy.