Google can demonstrate that they need my information and publications to run their business.

I don't agree.

I think they could perhaps argue that they need some information and some publications to run their business to its fullest potential.

I'm not sure they could prove that losing mrweasel's data is going to cause them any significant harm as a business, though.

Need is quite specific here - I suspect you need something more than Google can offer. E.g. required by legislation as part of running the business would be sufficient.