Google Confirms Authenticity of Over 2,500 Leaked Internal Documents Related to Search: Report Reveals

Google Verifies Legitimacy of More Than 2,500 Leaked Internal Documents Regarding Search: Report

Google has reportedly confirmed the legitimacy of thousands of internal documents leaked earlier in May, which contain details about Search operations and data collection methods for web page ranking. Although initially silent on the matter, the company has now acknowledged the leaks, cautioning against drawing inaccurate conclusions.

Confirmation of Search Leak
According to Google spokesperson David Thompson in an email to The Verge, the company advises against forming misconceptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information. Thompson emphasized Google's efforts to safeguard search result integrity from manipulation, stating that the company has provided comprehensive details on Search operations and the factors considered by its systems.

The issue arose when search engine optimization experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King analyzed 14,014 attributes (internal API documents) leaked from Google's Search division, shared with them by a source.

Details on Document Origin and Removal from GitHub Platform

These leaked documents are said to be part of the "Content API Warehouse," utilized by Google employees as a repository. According to reports, the document's code was uploaded to GitHub on March 27 and remained accessible on the platform until May 7.

Discrepancies in Information

In a blog post, Fishkin highlighted discrepancies between information provided by the source and statements made by Google over the years. Examples include the consideration of clickthrough rate (CTR) as a ranking signal and the treatment of subdomains as distinct entities.

Additionally, the documents purportedly reference Chrome data in website ranking on Search, despite Google's consistent claims to the contrary, asserting that Chrome data is not utilized for page ranking.

Fishkin Highlights Parallels Between Claims and Google's Testimony in Antitrust Case

Fishkin noted that many of these assertions align with what Google disclosed in its testimony during the US Department of Justice antitrust case. Additionally, some claims suggest insider knowledge. While much of this information may be more comprehensible to SEO professionals, Fishkin's analysis sheds light on the data collection practices of Google from searches, web pages, and websites.