Feb 6th Update: Google is changing the rules (again!)
Since we began our rollout of reCAPTCHA v3 Enterprise, Google has issued a fresh update regarding how they handle your website data.
What’s changed? Up until now, Google acted as a “Data Controller” for reCAPTCHA. This meant they had a direct legal relationship with your website visitors, which is why we’ve recently been adding links to Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service on your contact forms and footers.
However, starting April 2026, Google is stepping back. They will now act as a “Data Processor” instead. In plain English: Google is moving from being the “owner” of that security data to being a “service provider” that works strictly for you.
What does this mean for your website?
Cleaner Compliance: This is actually great news for your privacy compliance (like Australian Privacy Principles and GDPR). It means your data stays more “in-house” and is used strictly for security, not for Google’s own external purposes.
Removing the “Fine Print”: Because Google will no longer have that direct legal link with your visitors, they have instructed us that the Privacy and Terms links we recently added will eventually need to be removed or updated.
We’ve got it covered: If you are on an Avenue De Saxe Support & Maintenance plan, you don’t need to do a thing. We are tracking this timeline and will handle the removal of these references across your site before the April 2026 deadline as part of our proactive management.
This is a perfect example of why we moved to the Enterprise model – it gives us (and you) much tighter control over your data and ensures we can pivot quickly when the tech giants change their policies.
Keeping Your Website Secure: The Move to reCAPTCHA v3 Enterprise
We are in the midst of an important security update across our client websites, and we wanted to take a moment to explain exactly what is changing, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture of keeping your business safe online.
What is Google reCAPTCHA?
Think of reCAPTCHA as the digital security guard for your website. Its job is to tell the difference between a real human customer trying to contact you and a malicious “bot” (automated software) trying to send you spam or hack your site.
The Big Shift in January 2026
You might be wondering why we are changing this now. As of January 2026, Google has fundamentally changed how they offer this service. In the past, reCAPTCHA was a free public utility – a bit like using a google font or a search bar.
However, “bad bots” have become incredibly sophisticated, and the computing power required to stop them has skyrocketed. Because of this, Google is no longer running reCAPTCHA as a simple free tool. They have transitioned it into a dedicated Enterprise Security Product (similar to a firewall).
Why this matters for you
The “Free Ride” is Over: Google is no longer subsidising high-volume bot protection for free.
Smarter Protection: To keep up with these smarter bots, we need to move your site from the old “public utility” version to the new “Enterprise” version. This ensures you are protected by the latest data and security layers that the old free versions simply don’t offer anymore. With this, unfortunately there comes costs – please reach out to discuss options.
Why does it need to connect to Gravity Forms?
Gravity Forms is the engine that powers the contact forms on your website. Since your contact form is the main “door” for people to talk to you, it is also the main entry point for spammers. By integrating v3 Enterprise directly into your forms, we stop the junk mail before it ever hits your inbox, ensuring you only spend time responding to real leads.
Plus, v3 Enterprise is invisible. Your customers won’t have to click “I am not a robot” or identify traffic lights anymore. It works silently in the background to verify humans without annoying them.
The Bigger Picture: Why Support Matters
This update isn’t just a one-off fix; it is part of a wider trend we are seeing in the digital landscape. The web is changing faster than ever, and security protocols (like this Google update) are becoming more complex to manage.
In the past, websites could often be a little more “set and forget.” Today, that approach just doesn’t fly and we want to make sure our clients are vulnerable to spam attacks, security breaches and performance issues.
This is why we are emphasising the importance of our Support & Maintenance service.
To keep your site fast, secure, and reliable, we need to be proactive – not reactive. Our retainer clients allow us to catch issues (like these new Google changes) before they disrupt your business.
With On-Going Support Plans We Handle the Technical Heavy Lifting
We know that terms like “Google Cloud Console,” “API Quotas,” “Usage Limits,” and “Key Configuration” can sound overwhelming. To be honest, they are technical jobs that require precise setup to ensure your forms don’t suddenly stop working.
You shouldn’t have to become a Google security expert just to run your website. That is our job. We navigate the complex setup, monitor the usage limits, and manage the connections behind the scenes. We want you to feel confident that while the technology is complex, your experience remains simple: your website just works.
A Note on Our Partnership
We care about the quality of service we provide. We want to be the partner you can rely on to keep your digital presence running smoothly 24/7. However, providing that level of “always-on” reliability requires resources and dedicated time. We are finding that we can no longer offer the same level of stability or guarantee “emergency” availability for clients who are strictly on ad-hoc (pay-as-you-go) arrangements. Without a service retainer, we simply cannot budget the team resources to handle unexpected surprises for you instantly.
Looking ahead
Our goal is to work with clients who value a proactive relationship. As we move forward, we will be prioritising clients on support plans. We understand that a monthly or quarterly retainer isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. However, if your business model prefers an ad-hoc approach to website care, we may eventually reach a point where we are no longer the best supplier for your needs, as we won’t be able to offer you the safety net you deserve.
Ready to secure your site?
We want to make sure your business is protected against the unexpected. If you aren’t already across it, please review our support service here so we can get you on board and keep your site running smoothly.