What matters today
Today's web news centers on three stories: Google's clash with the European Union over the DMA, disruptions in Google Analytics, and a security flaw affecting AI assistants built into browsers. Here is the essence, and what it means for a business website.
Google appeals the mandate to share search history
According to Search Engine Roundtable, Google appealed the European mandate that requires it, under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), to share search history data. Nick Fox, Google's SVP of Knowledge and Information, said he feels "sad" and "terrible" for European searchers, after Google earlier claimed compliance required the biggest reduction in search quality in its 28-year history.
For you: if you target European customers, expect changes in how results are displayed. Diversify traffic sources: SEO, email, social and paid.
Google Analytics: loading problems
On September 29, Google confirmed loading problems on Google Analytics, with partial restoration and a full fix expected. If your reports look incomplete, wait for normal service before drawing conclusions.
Business Profiles and AI Overviews: two tweaks to watch
Google added a "misuse of support channels" policy to Business Profile guidelines, and a bug places some service-area business pins in the middle of the ocean on Google Maps. In AI Overviews, Google is testing citation cards below the answer instead of on the right side, the third iteration of this test according to Search Engine Roundtable.
Search
September 2026 spam update rolling out over about two weeks since September 25.
Regulation
Google appeals the DMA search history sharing requirement.
Measurement
Google Analytics partially restored after loading issues.
Security: extensions can hijack browser AI assistants
As reported by The Hacker News, Forever Security researchers (Gal Weizman) showed that an extension with page-modification and network-control permissions can hijack the AI assistants in Chrome (Gemini Live), Perplexity Comet, Microsoft Edge, Opera Neon and Claude in Chrome. Google patched Chrome (CVE-2026-0628, CVSS 8.8) and Microsoft patched Edge (CVE-2026-55945). No dated patches were reported for the other products.
Best practice: update your browsers, remove unused extensions and limit permissions.
Browser roundup
| Date | News | Source |
|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Opera auto-enables its VPN on public Wi-Fi | gHacks |
| September 23 | Microsoft plans to end Edge's Internet Explorer mode by end of 2029 | gHacks |
| September 17 | Firefox 156: PDF loading 45% faster | gHacks |
What to do today
- Monitor rankings and traffic during the spam update rollout.
- Check your Google Business Profile listings and policies.
- Update browsers and audit extensions.
- Cross-check Analytics numbers with a second source.
Need a fast, up-to-date website?
Our web agency in Tunis handles design, SEO and maintenance. Free quote.