In a Friday courtroom submitting, Google’s legal professionals wrote:
- “The actual fact is that right this moment, the open internet is already in fast decline.”
That line straight contradicts what Google executives and representatives have been saying for months.
- CEO Sundar Pichai (Could, The Verge interview): “After we crawl, after we have a look at the variety of internet pages accessible to us, that quantity has gone up by 45% within the final two years alone. … I believe individuals are producing lots of content material and I see shoppers consuming lots of content material.”
- Nick Fox, VP of Search (Could, AI Inside podcast): “From our perspective, the online is flourishing.”
- John Mueller, Search Advocate: “Discovering a steadiness is difficult, there’s a lot hype, however seeing so many of us making an attempt to make websites extra seen in AI, it’s clear that the online is flourishing.”
But in courtroom, Google is saying the online is already collapsing – all to additional its argument towards being compelled to divest its advert enterprise.
Why we care. Google can’t have it each methods. Both the online is flourishing (as execs inform the press and public) or it’s declining (as legal professionals inform a choose). If it’s declining, publishers’ fears about AI consuming their visitors are vindicated. If it’s thriving, why is Google arguing the other in courtroom?
The complete quote. It seems on Web page 5 of this doc:
- “The actual fact is that right this moment, the open internet is already in fast decline and Plaintiffs’ divestiture proposal would solely speed up that decline, harming publishers who at present depend on open-web show promoting income.”
The larger image. Google is below fireplace for a way AI Overviews is altering search and the online’s enterprise mannequin. Pichai insisted the corporate will nonetheless ship extra visitors to publishers.
- Final month, in a closely criticized weblog submit, Google’s head of Search Elizabeth Reid claimed AI is making search higher, visitors to websites is “comparatively secure,” and the online is getting into its “most fun period but.” This whereas providing no information or stats. The weblog submit was universally derided by search entrepreneurs.
The contradiction: Publicly, Google positions itself as a defender and champion of the open internet. Privately, in courtroom, it’s portray the online as a sinking ship.
Search Engine Land is owned by Semrush. We stay dedicated to offering high-quality protection of promoting subjects. Until in any other case famous, this web page’s content material was written by both an worker or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.
