Google May Be More Successful In Blocking Scrapers & Tracking Tools
Google may be more successful in blocking AI scrapers, search scrapers and third-party tracking tools since around September 13th or so. This coincides with the September 4th and September 12th reversals we reported, and it also aligns with the methods Google has been using to block non-human behavior in its search results recently.
Latest Articles
Google Discover Tests Dive Deeper Feature
Google is testing a new feature in Google Discover named "Dive deeper." When you click on it, it does not take you to a publisher's article, instead, it takes you to an AI-generated short topic overview with links to some other articles (which do take you to the publisher) and community reaction.
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 18, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...
Search Video Recaps
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Unusual Google Search Ranking Volatility, Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies, AI Contribution Publisher Payouts & More
This week we covered the first week or so of Google’s unusual ranking volatility only to see things spike up in a big way this week as well - something is up. Google’s remedies are out for its ad tech monopoly ruling. Google has an AI contribution pilot for paying publishers...
Google Search Bar Results Page Testing AI Mode Button
Google is now testing adding the AI Mode button to the search bar when you are inside the search results page. Google has the AI Mode button almost everywhere else, but now we are seeing it added to the search bar, within the search results page, not just the home page.
Bing Also Asking To Verify You Are Human Before Showing Search Results
Microsoft Bing is also asking some searchers to verify they are human before showing them search results. Google is doing this a lot, in various forms, and now Bing was spotted doing this.
Google Ads Commerce Audience Sharing Help Document
Google has posted a new help document in the Google Ads help area named About commerce audience sharing through Google Ads. It explains that "Commerce audience sharing allows commerce partners, such as retailers or marketplaces, to share first-party data segments with their advertising partners, such as brands or sellers."
Google Merchant Center API Now Supports Product Reviews
Google updated the upload a product reviews data source to Merchant Center help document to now say that you can do this via the Merchant Center API. Previously, the document said, "API isn’t currently supported for product reviews data sources." Now it says, "Add product reviews using API."
Archives
Google Now Requires You Label Adult Products In Ecommerce Feeds
Sep 18, 2026Google Search Drops Free Product Listings From European Economic Area
Sep 18, 2026Google Supports Local Business Queries In Aggregator & Supplier Search Units
Sep 18, 2026Daily Search Forum Recap: September 17, 2026
Sep 17, 2026What Ever Happened To Google Discover On Desktop
Sep 17, 2026Google Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies: Behavioral Changes With Oversight
Sep 17, 2026Google Local Knowledge Panel As An AI Overview
Sep 17, 2026Picture of the Day
