Google Admits Open Web Is in Rapid Decline, Warns Break-Up Will Harm Publishers
In a court filing ahead of an ad‑tech antitrust trial, Google conceded the “open web is already in rapid decline,” arguing breaking up its ad business would only worsen harm to publishers. The admission clashes with public claims that AI search broadens traffic; publishers report falling visits after AI search changes, while Google executives insist overall click volumes remain stable.
Also mentioned in:
- The Guardian — Judge Spares Google Breakup, Bars Exclusive Search Deals and Mandates Data Sharing