Google’s search algorithm is like the internet’s puppet master, deciding which sites shine and which fade away. For years, how it works has been a mystery, slowly pieced together by journalists and SEO experts.
But a recent massive leak of thousands of internal documents just hit, promising to reveal Google’s secrets. This leak suggests Google hasn’t been entirely truthful about its search practices. And surprise, surprise, Google hasn’t commented on the document’s legitimacy.
SEO expert Rand Fishkin got these 2,500 pages from a source aiming to expose the “lies” Google’s been telling. The documents detail how Google’s search API works and what data they collect, offering clues about their priorities.
Topics include the data Google gathers, how it handles small websites, and which sites it favors for sensitive topics like elections. Some info clashes with Google’s public statements. For instance, Google says it doesn’t use Chrome data for rankings, but the docs suggest otherwise.
While the leak isn’t absolute proof, it gives a rare glimpse into Google’s closely guarded system. Google’s secrecy has led to a sea of lookalike websites trying to game the algorithm. Fishkin calls out the media for blindly repeating Google’s claims and urges them to dig deeper.
This leak challenges what we thought we knew about Google’s search algorithm and calls for more scrutiny of their public statements.