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"
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
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Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut public utilities use artificial intelligence, citing potential data privacy and cybersecurity risks, algorithmic errors, and misleading outputs. The petition asks PURA to examine utility AI systems, safeguards, vendors, and data security practices; it does not report a finding of violation or an imposed penalty.
$2.0M
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$13.7M
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