{"id":123749,"date":"2025-09-08T22:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T22:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/123749\/"},"modified":"2025-09-08T22:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T22:12:09","slug":"google-says-the-open-web-is-in-rapid-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/123749\/","title":{"rendered":"Google says ‘the open web is in rapid decline’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been clear for some time that the \u201copen web\u201d as we\u2019ve known it for years is in a tough spot, but Google has argued the opposite. In a court statement, though, Google\u2019s own case argues that the open web is \u201cin rapid decline.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barely a month ago, Google argued that its AI products are not to blame for the widespread traffic declines, saying that total click volume \u201chas been relatively stable\u201d and that \u201caverage click quality has increased.\u201d That was in response to a study that showed web traffic was falling with patterns that suggested AI was to blame<\/a>. Google called the study\u2019s methodology \u201cflawed.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time Google has stood up to argue in favor of the health of the web today, but a statement from an ongoing court case admits that \u201cthe open web is in rapid decline,\u201d somewhat contradicting the sentiment of the company\u2019s prior statements.<\/p>\n

The full quote (via SE Roundtable<\/a>) reads<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\tAdvertisement – scroll for more content<\/p>\n

The fact is that today, the open web is already in rapid decline and Plaintiffs\u2019 divestiture proposal
would only accelerate that decline, harming publishers who currently rely on open-web display
advertising revenue. As the law makes clear, the last thing a court should do is intervene to reshape an industry that is already in the midst of being reshaped by market forces.<\/p>\n

The argument here is that the remedies being proposed by the court in regards to Google\u2019s grasp on the online advertising market would do more harm than good. It suggests that the industry is already going through a significant shift without interference by the DOJ, and that changes enforced by the court could harm \u201cpublishers who currently rely on open-web display advertising revenue\u201d which Google provides.<\/p>\n

As The Verge<\/a> points out, this argument is directly contrary to a statement from Google\u2019s Nick Fox, who said <\/a>in June that \u201cthe web is thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Google, of course, plays a pivotal role in the open web, with the company\u2019s search engine being not just a useful tool, but a fundamental part of life on the internet for years. Google continues to argue in favor of AI and that it \u201cbelieve[s] that Search\u2019s value exchange with the web remains strong,\u201d but it\u2019s also clear that something is amiss, and now even Google has acknowledged that.<\/p>\n

What do you think of the company\u2019s latest statement?<\/p>\n

More on Google:<\/p>\n

Follow Ben:\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>,\u00a0Threads<\/a>, Bluesky<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Add
\n\t\t\t\"Add
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t\t