In response to concerns regarding unauthorized use of its search results and partner content, Google implemented a measure known as SearchGuard in January 2025. This technology aims to limit access to its search results pages and protect the copyrighted material associated with its partners. However, SerpApi, a service that provides access to search data, has reportedly developed methods to bypass these restrictions imposed by SearchGuard.
Following the launch of SearchGuard, SerpApi quickly initiated efforts to circumvent Google’s technological protections. The company has reportedly devised techniques to disguise the nature of its automated queries, which purportedly number in the hundreds of millions each day. According to SerpApi’s founder, these techniques involve simulating human user behavior by creating what he describes as “fake browsers” sourced from numerous IP addresses that Google identifies as legitimate users.
As a result of these activities, SerpApi’s operations may conflict with federal law regarding copyright protection and unauthorized access, as it seeks to continue benefiting from Google’s search results without adhering to the established restrictions. This ongoing situation raises questions about the balance between technological measures designed to protect content and the methods employed by third-party services to evade such protections.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848365/google-scraper-lawsuit-serpapi