GOOGLE ACKNOWLEDGES THE “RAPID DECAY” OF THE OPEN WEB IN COURT FILING

In a new court filing related to an antitrust case, Google has admitted that the “open web is rapidly decaying.” This statement contradicts recent public assertions from the company’s executives who have insisted that the internet is “thriving.” The news was reported by Mezha Media, citing The Verge.

Google’s admission came as part of a lawsuit in which the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to force the company to break up its ad business. In the document, Google argues that such a move would only accelerate the “decay of the open web” and harm publishers who rely on banner ad revenue.

The company attributes its position to structural changes within the industry, including:
• The rise of new formats: The growing popularity of Connected TV and retail media.
• The impact of AI: Artificial intelligence is changing every level of ad technology.
This stance is at odds with previous public statements from Google’s top executives. CEO Sundar Pichai and Vice President of Search Nick Fox have both publicly claimed that “web publishers are not dying” and “the web is thriving.” Head of Google Search Liz Reid also stated that click volumes to websites remained “relatively stable” even after the launch of AI Overviews.

However, many publishers and independent creators have reported a sharp drop in traffic following recent updates to the Google Search algorithm and the rise of AI chatbots, which often provide users with answers without requiring them to visit external websites.

A Google spokesperson, Jackie Berthe, attempted to clarify the situation, stating that the quote was “taken out of context.” She explained that the court document was referring only to the decline in traditional banner ad revenue, not the overall state of the internet. The company, she said, was simply noting that investments are shifting toward more modern advertising formats.