Google Sues SerpApi Over Data Scraping, SerpApi Counters Claiming Google Scrapes More

• February 20, 2026

Google has initiated legal action against SerpApi, accusing the company of unauthorized mass collection of search result data. The lawsuit comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding web scraping practices within the tech industry.

SerpApi, a provider of search result APIs, quickly responded by filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In its defense, SerpApi argued that Google itself engages in extensive web scraping activities, labeling the tech giant as “the largest web scraper in the world.” The company pointed out that Google performs similar data collection activities but on a far larger scale.

Dispute Highlights Conflicting Views on Web Scraping

The central issue revolves around the legal and ethical boundaries of web scraping—a technique used to extract data from websites. Google alleges that SerpApi’s methods infringe on its rights by harvesting search engine results without permission. Meanwhile, SerpApi contends that Google’s own operations involve similar, if not greater, scraping activity, raising questions about consistency and fairness in the enforcement of web scraping rules.

The case underscores broader challenges faced by internet companies in regulating data access and usage. Web scraping is widely utilized for various purposes, from market research to artificial intelligence training, but it can also raise concerns about intellectual property, user privacy, and server load.

Although specific details about the scope of scraping or the legal arguments remain limited, the confrontation between Google and SerpApi reflects a growing scrutiny on how data collected from web platforms is governed. Both companies have vested interests in controlling search-related information, which is critical for services relying on accurate and timely search data.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have important implications for the data extraction ecosystem and the regulatory landscape governing online content. It illustrates the complexities tech companies face when balancing innovation, competitive advantage, and compliance with digital content policies.

As legal proceedings continue, the technology and legal communities will be watching closely to see how this dispute influences future norms and practices around web scraping in the search engine domain and beyond.

Google has filed a lawsuit against SerpApi for scraping search results, but SerpApi responds by calling Google the largest web scraper globally.