>Some websites, mostly news outlets, can legally withhold access completely, and do, unless you accept all cookies or pay for membership.
GDPR article 7, section 4: When assessing whether consent is freely given, utmost account
shall be taken of whether, inter alia, the performance of a contract,
including the provision of a service, is conditional on consent to the
processing of personal data that is not necessary for the performance of
that contract.
basically: A data controller may not refuse service to users who decline consent to processing that is not strictly necessary in order to use the service
Major news outlets doing it are willing to argue it is okay. They are a membership only news publication with a free viewing option in their books.
Iirc it boils down to the fact the user still has a choice.
Either way your interpretation of GDPR and several major news outlets clearly differ, and i would bet my house on them having access to better legal advice than you.
GDPR article 7, section 4: When assessing whether consent is freely given, utmost account shall be taken of whether, inter alia, the performance of a contract, including the provision of a service, is conditional on consent to the processing of personal data that is not necessary for the performance of that contract.
basically: A data controller may not refuse service to users who decline consent to processing that is not strictly necessary in order to use the service
anyone who does that is in violation of GDPR