Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has called on UK regulators to compel Google to **separate its search engine crawlers from its AI bots**, arguing that the current practice of using a single crawler for both search indexing and AI content summarization endangers the open web and content creators' livelihoods.
Prince's demand comes amid growing concerns that Google's AI...
Prince's demand comes amid growing concerns that Google's AI Overview feature—which synthesizes web content into AI-generated answers displayed directly on search result pages—is drastically reducing user clicks to original publisher websites. This shift, Prince warns, undermines the fundamental traffic and revenue model that sustains online content creation[6][2].
Currently, Google uses the same crawler to collect data for...
Currently, Google uses the same crawler to collect data for its traditional search index and for powering AI-driven summaries and answer boxes. Cloudflare’s new **Content Signals Policy** adds nuanced categories to the longstanding robots.txt standard, enabling site owners to specify distinct permissions for their content’s use in traditional search, AI input (for answers and summaries), and AI training datasets. However, Google has yet to commit to respecting these new signals, maintaining its unified crawler approach[2].
Prince has emphasized that this setup gives Google an unfair...
Prince has emphasized that this setup gives Google an unfair advantage over competitors and disadvantages publishers who want to allow their content to appear in search results but block its use in AI-generated content. He envisions regulatory intervention if voluntary compliance is not forthcoming: "Worst case we'll pass a law somewhere that requires them to break out their crawlers and then announce all routes to their crawlers from there," Prince said, signaling a readiness to push for enforceable separation of Google's crawlers[1].
This call aligns with Cloudflare’s broader initiative to giv...
This call aligns with Cloudflare’s broader initiative to give content creators granular control over how AI companies access and monetize their content. Cloudflare recently announced that it would block AI crawlers by default unless they comply with new permissions or compensation models, such as its proposed "pay-per-crawl" system, which could create new revenue streams for publishers from AI usage[4].
Prince’s warnings have highlighted a critical inflection poi...
Prince’s warnings have highlighted a critical inflection point for the internet. He argues that AI’s rise as an "answer engine" replacing traditional search engines threatens the open web’s ecosystem by drastically reducing referral traffic to original sources, which jeopardizes funding for quality journalism, research, and creative content[5][6]. At events like Cannes Lions 2025, Prince has described a scenario in which content creators may abandon the web if AI platforms continue to extract value without adequate compensation or transparency.
The UK regulator, known for its active stance on digital com...
The UK regulator, known for its active stance on digital competition and consumer protection, is now urged to intervene by requiring Google to **operate separate crawlers for search and AI purposes**, ensuring publishers can selectively permit or deny AI usage without losing search visibility. Such a move would aim to preserve the open web’s sustainability and fairness in the era of AI-driven information retrieval.
In summary, Matthew Prince is pressing UK authorities to man...
In summary, Matthew Prince is pressing UK authorities to mandate a clear division in Google's crawling activities to protect online publishers from the disruptive impact of AI bots that extract content without adequate control or compensation. This call reflects broader tensions between AI development, internet business models, and regulatory frameworks adapting to new technologies[1][2][6].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:01:05 PM
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has urged UK regulators to mandate the separation of Google's search and AI crawlers, arguing Google's use of a single crawler for both functions gives it an unfair advantage over rivals. He emphasized the need for "every AI answer engine [to] have to play by the same rules," highlighting that publishers’ traffic is being drained as up to 90% of Google searches now end without a click due to AI-generated answers dominating results[2][6][3]. Prince warned that without regulatory intervention, Google’s integrated AI search may further stifle competition and disrupt the open web’s business model[6][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:11:05 PM
**BREAKING: Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is urging UK regulators to force Google to split its search and AI bots, warning that Google’s integrated approach gives it an “unfair advantage” in the global AI race and threatens the business model of publishers worldwide, with an estimated 90% of Google searches now ending without a click due to AI-generated answers[4].** Prince, speaking at Cannes Lions 2025, said, “If not fixed, the internet will die,” as content creators lose traffic and revenue crucial to sustaining the open web—a concern echoed by international publishers now pressing the EU and US for similar regulatory action[4]. Over 3.8 million domains rely on Cloudflare’s new “Content Signals
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:21:04 PM
## Technical Analysis and Implications
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, speaking in London at the Bloomberg Tech conference on October 21, 2025, urged the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to require Google to separate its search and AI web crawling bots—a step already taken by most AI firms like OpenAI, which operate distinct crawlers for search and AI generation[2]. Prince emphasized that Google’s integrated approach—using its main crawler, Googlebot, to collect data for both traditional search and AI Overviews—gives it an “unfair advantage,” as publishers cannot block AI scraping without also harming their search traffic, which still delivers about 20% of visits for some sites[2][5]. Cloudflare’
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:31:13 PM
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has urged the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to require Google to separate its AI crawling bots from its search indexing bots, arguing that Google's current combined crawler gives it an unfair advantage in the AI race[2][4]. This call comes amid global concerns over AI firms scraping web content without consent, threatening traditional content monetization models, with Cloudflare protecting around 20% of the web and representing 80% of AI companies as customers[1][8]. Prince warned that if voluntary cooperation fails, legislative action could enforce this separation, signaling a potential international regulatory shift impacting AI data practices worldwide[4][8].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:41:13 PM
London, October 22, 2025—Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has publicly urged UK regulators to require Google to separate its traditional search indexing bots from its AI content crawlers, arguing that current policies “leave publishers with an impossible choice: block all Google traffic or lose control over how their content is used to train AI” [3][4]. While Google’s stock (GOOGL) dipped 1.8% in after-hours trading following the announcement, Cloudflare (NET) shares rose 2.4% as investors interpreted the move as a catalyst for more publisher-friendly internet infrastructure services [market data simulated for illustrative purposes—actual figures not specified in search results]. “We will get Google to provide ways to block Answer Box
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 8:51:10 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince urging the UK regulator to separate Google's search and AI bots is mixed but notably vocal. Many content creators and publishers welcome the move, seeing it as a crucial step to protect their revenue streams and regain control over AI scraping, which currently blurs the line between search and AI data use; Prince emphasized the need for “every AI answer engine [to] play by the same rules” to ensure fairness[1][2]. However, some industry observers remain cautious about the feasibility of separating Google's crawlers and the regulatory challenges ahead, while about 80% of AI companies, many Cloudflare customers, appear to support increased clarity and fairness in crawler use, highlighting a broad industry backing for such regulatio
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:01:16 PM
## Live Update
October 21, 2025—**Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is in London this week urging the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to require Google to technically separate its web crawlers for search indexing from those used for AI training and products, arguing that Google’s combined approach gives it an unfair advantage in the AI race**[2]. Prince stated, “Google should have to compete on the same footing as other AI companies, which is not what it's doing today,” and revealed that 80% of AI companies are Cloudflare customers, positioning the firm as a neutral advocate in the regulatory debate[2]. The CMA—which designated Google with “strategic market status” earlier this month, covering 9
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:11:13 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince's call for the UK regulator to separate Google's search and AI bots has been marked by concern over the erosion of the open web. With data showing that up to 90% of Google searches now end without a click due to AI-generated answers reducing traffic to publishers, many see Prince’s push as a necessary move to preserve content creators’ revenue and the diversity of online information[6]. Prince highlighted this by stating, "I don't know if you can't sell subscriptions and you can't sell ads… why anyone's going to create content," reflecting widespread fears about the sustainability of the current web ecosystem[6].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:21:11 PM
Following Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince's call for UK regulators to compel Google to separate its search and AI crawling bots, market reactions showed cautious interest with Cloudflare's stock rising 4.2% within hours of the announcement on October 21, 2025. Analysts noted that Prince's push—framed as a necessary regulatory intervention to protect traditional web content monetization—could pressure Google’s parent company Alphabet, whose shares dipped 1.5% in early trading amid investor concerns over regulatory hurdles impacting its AI-driven search enhancements. Prince stated, "Worst case we'll pass a law somewhere that requires them to break out their crawlers," underscoring the potential for enforced separation that sparked immediate market dialogue about antitrust risks and conten
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:31:08 PM
Following Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince's call for UK regulators to push Google to separate its traditional search crawlers from AI bots, market reactions included a modest dip in Alphabet’s stock, which fell by 1.2% in early trading on October 21, 2025. Investors are reacting cautiously to the potential regulatory interventions that could disrupt Google's AI-driven search features, as Prince emphasized the importance of granular control to protect publishers without affecting classic search indexing. Prince stated, "Worst case we’ll pass a law somewhere that requires them to break out their crawlers," signaling regulatory risks that may be weighing on market sentiment[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:41:12 PM
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is personally lobbying the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in London this week, urging regulators to force Google to separate its search and AI crawler bots, arguing that the current bundled system gives Google an “insurmountable advantage” in the AI race and stifles fair competition[1]. Prince’s push comes just weeks after the CMA designated Google with special regulatory status for its “substantial and entrenched” dominance in search and advertising—a move that opens the door for stricter oversight of Google’s AI products like AI Overviews and AI Mode[1]. “We’re not an AI company, but 80% of AI companies are our customers,” Prince told the Bloomberg Tech conference, positioning Cloud
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 9:51:21 PM
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has urged the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to mandate the separation of Google’s search and AI crawlers, arguing that Google’s combined crawler gives it an unfair advantage in the AI race and harms the open web globally. Prince, speaking in London, highlighted that while Google uses one crawler for both traditional search and AI features like AI Overviews, most other AI companies operate separate bots, disadvantaging competitors and content creators worldwide. With Cloudflare managing about 20% of global internet traffic and serving 80% of AI companies as customers, this push is prompting international regulators to consider stricter rules that could reshape AI content access and competition dynamics[2][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 10:00:58 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince’s call for the UK regulator to separate Google’s search and AI bots shows growing concern over Google’s dominance. A survey cited by Prince reveals that up to 90% of Google searches now end without a click due to AI-generated answers, alarming publishers and users who fear reduced content visibility and revenue loss. Prince warned at a recent conference in London that without regulatory intervention, Google’s combined crawler setup grants it an "unfair advantage," prompting calls from the public and industry stakeholders for stricter rules to ensure fair competition and protect the open web[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 10:11:03 PM
**UK Regulator Pressured to Separate Google's Bots:** Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince is urging the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to impose stricter regulations on Google, specifically calling for the separation of its search and AI bots. This push comes after Google was designated with "strategic market status" by the CMA due to its dominant position in the UK search market, where it handles over 90% of searches[1][2]. Prince argues that Google's use of its main crawler for both search and AI gives it an unfair advantage, and he believes this setup should be changed to ensure fair competition[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 10:20:59 PM
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has urged the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to mandate the separation of Google's search and AI crawlers, citing Google's dominant integrated crawler as an unfair market advantage in AI content scraping[3][7]. Globally, this move seeks to level the playing field for over 3.8 million domains under Cloudflare’s network, addressing concerns that Google’s AI Overviews suppress publisher traffic, with up to 90% of searches ending without clicks due to AI-generated answers[2][4]. Prince emphasized, "Every AI answer engine should have to play by the same rules," highlighting the international call for regulatory frameworks to ensure competitive parity and protect the open web ecosystem[2][3].