Google search changes that affect SERP collection and APIs, tracked by SerpKite.https://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelogen-ushttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-26-result-links-become-encoded-goto-redirectshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-26-result-links-become-encoded-goto-redirectsGoogle result links are confirmed to be served as encoded /goto redirect URLs instead of the destination URL. Impact: Parsers that read href directly record Google URLs. Rank trackers stop matching domains, silently.Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTLayouthttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-10-google-files-an-amended-complaint-against-serpapihttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-10-google-files-an-amended-complaint-against-serpapiAfter the July dismissal, Google's amended complaint narrows to licensed content such as Knowledge Panel images and content licensed from Reddit. Impact: Risk for SERP APIs concentrates on redistributing licensed content.Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTLegalhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-partner-only-web-search-service-api-docs-appear-then-are-pulledhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-08-partner-only-web-search-service-api-docs-appear-then-are-pulledDocumentation for a partner-only Google "Web Search Service API" surfaces in August/September 2026 and is taken down. Impact: No self-serve official Google web search API is expected after the CSE shutdown.Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTOfficial APIshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-07-31-reddit-v-serpapi-oxylabs-awmproxy-and-perplexity-proceedshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-07-31-reddit-v-serpapi-oxylabs-awmproxy-and-perplexity-proceedsIn S.D.N.Y., motions to dismiss are mostly denied; DMCA §1201 and civil-conspiracy claims go to discovery. Proxy providers are among the defendants. Impact: Extracting Reddit content via Google results is a live legal risk.Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTLegalhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-07-20-court-dismisses-google-s-dmca-claims-against-serpapihttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-07-20-court-dismisses-google-s-dmca-claims-against-serpapiIn N.D. Cal., claims over non-copyrighted results are dismissed with prejudice; the rest may be amended. The court finds Google has standing and plausibly alleged circumvention. Impact: Plain SERP facts (titles, links, snippets) are not protected by the DMCA in this district.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTLegalhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-01-20-custom-search-json-api-closed-to-new-customershttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-01-20-custom-search-json-api-closed-to-new-customersGoogle stops onboarding new Custom Search JSON API customers and sets a shutdown date of January 1, 2027. Impact: Existing users have under a year to migrate.Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTOfficial APIshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-01-google-and-the-fbi-take-down-the-ipidea-proxy-networkhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2026-01-google-and-the-fbi-take-down-the-ipidea-proxy-networkIPIDEA is taken down in January 2026, followed by NetNut in July. Impact: Cheap residential proxy supply shrinks, and proxy sourcing becomes a compliance question.Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTEcosystemhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-12-19-google-sues-serpapi-under-dmca-1201https://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-12-19-google-sues-serpapi-under-dmca-1201Google alleges circumvention of its SearchGuard anti-bot system. Impact: A legal cloud over the whole SERP API category.Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTLegalhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-10-google-blocks-a-num-100-workaround-within-five-dayshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-10-google-blocks-a-num-100-workaround-within-five-daysA workaround DataForSEO found after the num=100 removal is blocked within about five days. Impact: Google iterates quickly; depth workarounds are not durable.Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTAnti-bothttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-09-14-num-100-stops-workinghttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-09-14-num-100-stops-workingGoogle stops honoring num=100. Results come ten per page. Impact: The top 100 now takes ten requests, so top-100 checks cost about ten times more to collect.Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTParametershttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-08-11-microsoft-retires-the-bing-search-apihttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-08-11-microsoft-retires-the-bing-search-apiThe Bing Search APIs are retired. The suggested replacement, Grounding with Bing, is tied to Azure AI agents at about $14 per 1,000. Impact: No cheap raw Bing JSON API remains.Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTEcosystemhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-05-ai-mode-launches-in-the-ushttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-05-ai-mode-launches-in-the-usGoogle launches AI Mode, a conversational answer surface with cited sources, separate from the main results page. Impact: AI-visibility (GEO) tools need to track AI Mode citations in addition to AI Overviews.Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMTAI featureshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-01-15-javascript-becomes-required-searchguardhttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2025-01-15-javascript-becomes-required-searchguardGoogle requires JavaScript to load results and rolls out its SearchGuard anti-bot system. Impact: Plain HTTP scrapers fail. Collection needs a real browser for challenges, which raises cost and favors specialists.Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTAnti-bothttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2024-05-ai-overviews-roll-out-in-us-resultshttps://serpkite.com/google-serp-changelog#2024-05-ai-overviews-roll-out-in-us-resultsGoogle's AI-generated summaries (previously Search Generative Experience) appear at the top of US results for many queries, with linked references. Impact: The first thing a user reads is no longer a blue link. SERP parsers need to capture AI Overview text and references.Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTAI features