Google has quietly begun requiring users to enable JavaScript in their browsers to access its search engine, a move the company claims is aimed at better protecting its services and users from malicious activity, such as bots and spam.

A company spokesperson confirmed the change in an email to TechCrunch, stating that enabling JavaScript allows Google to provide a better search experience for users and to protect its services from evolving forms of abuse and spam. The spokesperson noted that many Google Search features won't work properly without JavaScript, and that the quality of search results tends to be degraded.

The requirement is unlikely to affect the majority of users, as JavaScript is a widely-used programming language that is already enabled by default in most modern browsers. According to a 2020 GitHub survey, a staggering 95% of websites employ JavaScript in some form. However, the move could add friction for users who rely on accessibility tools, which can struggle with certain JavaScript implementations.

JavaScript is also prone to security vulnerabilities, with a 2024 annual security survey by Datadog finding that around 70% of JavaScript services are vulnerable to one or more "critical" or "high-severity" vulnerabilities introduced by a third-party software library. Despite this, Google's spokesperson claimed that fewer than 0.1% of searches on Google are done by people who disable JavaScript, which translates to millions of users at Google's scale.

One of Google's motivations behind the move may be to inhibit third-party tools that provide insights into Google Search trends and traffic. According to a post on Search Engine Roundtable, a number of "rank-checking" tools – tools that indicate how websites are performing in search engines – began experiencing issues with Google Search around the time the JavaScript requirement came into force. Google's spokesperson declined to comment on the reporting.

The implications of Google's move are significant, as it could impact the way users interact with the search engine and the tools they use to analyze search trends. While the company's stated goal is to improve security and protect users from spam, the requirement could also have unintended consequences for accessibility and the wider search ecosystem.

As the search landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how users and developers will adapt to Google's new requirement. One thing is certain, however – with billions of searches per day, Google's decisions have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and beyond.