Google is complying with a new Tennessee law that makes it liable to small businesses if they blacklist search results or remove their reviews. The new law is part of a broader societal concern about large tech monopolies potentially harming small businesses. Google has issued specific guidelines to Tennessee businesses that make it easier for them to receive notifications related to what the law defines as a blacklist.
BS 2262
SB 2262 is a new law passed in Tennessee that takes effect July 1 and provides protections for small businesses that are blacklisted by a search engine or have their reviews reduced by 25% or more.
The law uses the word “blacklist” to mean one of three things:
“(i) reduce the visibility or accessibility of a small business website on an online search engine;
(ii) remove a small business website or the search result for such website from an online search engine; Or
(iii) remove or otherwise remove from the online search engine 25% or more of a small business’s reviews.
Violations of the new law allow small businesses to take legal action against Google or any other search engine.
Small businesses are defined as businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
The original version of the law required search engines to notify small businesses if they were blacklisted. The law actually passed was amended on April 6, 2026, removing this requirement and replacing it with the right for small businesses to contact the search engine and demand an explanation.
THE amended law says:
“…allow a small business that believes that an online search engine has blacklisted the small business to contact the online search engine and request a response regarding the action. The search engine must provide a response to such a request within five business days that includes an explanation of the action and the rationale for the action; the process, steps, and requirements necessary for the small business to appeal the action or be restored or reindexed;…”
Google’s response
Google published new guidelines which are specific to small businesses in Tennessee and which specify actions small businesses must take to ensure they receive the notices they are required to send.
The new guidelines state:
“Tennessee SB 2262 (2026) allows certain small businesses in Tennessee to be notified if their digital listings or customer reviews are removed or restricted from online search engines. To ensure you receive these notifications from Google Search, be sure to do the following:
Check your website in Search Console
Claim and manage other business listings on Google that may appear in search »
The new guidelines explain the benefits of signing up for Search Console:
“Spam and policy violations: Get notified if your site violates Google’s anti-spam policies and other policy violations.
Legal Removals: Receive alerts if content has been removed due to local legal requirements.
Security issues: Be aware of malware or pirated content on your site.
He also explains the benefits of claiming a Google Business Profile and getting started with a Merchant Center listing.
Take away
The new law aims to bring more transparency to how search engines list and remove small businesses and make search engines more accountable to businesses.
Losing a large number of positive reviews can seriously harm your business. The Tennessee law seeks to give these business owners the legal authority to hold search engines like Google more accountable for their decisions.
Featured image by Shutterstock/rudall30
