Tag: Spam Reports

Google June 2026 Spam Update Is Done Rolling Out

I’m noting that Google has confirmed its June 2026 spam update is now fully rolled out. The update started on Wednesday, June 24, around noon ET, and finished on June 26 at 2 p.m. ET.

Google’s official status update was brief and direct: “The rollout was complete as of June 26, 2026.”

What stands out to me is that this was the second Google spam update announced in 2026. It appeared to feel somewhat bigger than the March 2026 spam update, but as with most updates, if my site was not affected, I would treat that as a good sign for now.

That said, I always keep in mind that spam updates can sometimes affect sites that are not intentionally trying to spam Google. Hopefully, that is not the case for your site, but it is still worth watching traffic, rankings, and Search Console data closely after a rollout like this.

As for the type of update, Google originally described it as a normal spam update that would roll out across all languages and locations, with completion expected to take a few days.

If I wanted more context on how these updates work, I would review Google’s official documentation on spam updates in this Google help document.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

July 3, 2026
Google June 2026 Spam Update: What I’m Watching

Google has released its June 2026 spam update, with the rollout beginning around noon ET. I’m watching this one closely because it arrives after a busy stretch of Google Search updates, including the May 2026 core update, the March 2026 core update, the March 2026 spam update, and the February 2026 Discover update.

What Google said. Google wrote, “Released the June 2026 spam update, which applies globally and to all languages. The rollout may take a few days to complete.”

Timing. I expect this update to move fairly quickly, since Google said the rollout may take only a few days to finish.

Why I care. Google releases search ranking updates several times each year, and spam updates are meant to target sites that use manipulative tactics to abuse the ranking system. If a site is not relying on those kinds of practices, I would not expect it to be the main target of this update.

More on spam updates. Google’s documentation explains that its automated systems are always working to detect search spam, but the company occasionally makes notable improvements to those systems and labels them as spam updates.

Google also points to SpamBrain, its AI-based spam-prevention system, as one example of how it improves its ability to identify spam and catch new types of abuse.

If I saw a ranking change after a spam update, my first step would be to review Google’s spam policies and make sure the site is complying with them. Sites that violate those policies may rank lower or disappear from results, while improvements can help over time if Google’s automated systems recognize that the site is now compliant.

For link spam updates specifically, Google says recovery can work differently. If Google removes the value of spammy links, any ranking benefit those links once created is lost, and that benefit cannot be regained simply by cleaning up the links later.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

July 3, 2026
Google’s New Stance: Personal Info in Spam Reports Unused
Recently, I noticed a significant change in Google’s approach to handling spam reports. They’ve updated their stance on whether they’ll process reports containing personally identifying information, and it feels like a big shift from what was communicated just a week prior.

On their updated spam report page, Google now clearly states that any spam report containing personally identifying information will not be processed. This revision comes after their previous announcement that such information could be passed on to the site in question.

Here’s What’s Changed: Google has added a highlighted note on their official spam report page, emphasizing two points:

(1) Avoid including personally identifying information in your spam reports.

(2) If you do include such information, your submission won’t be processed.

Google’s explanation reads:

“Don’t include any personally identifying information in your submission. To comply with regulations, we must send the submission text to the site owner to help them understand the context of a manual action, if one is issued. Because of this, we won’t process your submission if we determine it contains personally identifying information to protect privacy. Not including such information fully ensures your information is safe and prevents your submission from being discarded.”

Previously: Just a week ago, as we documented, Google allowed:
- “If we issue a manual action, we send whatever you write in the submission report verbatim to the site owner to help them understand the context of the manual action.”
This policy raised many eyebrows across the industry. Concerns were not just about being flagged for identifying competitors or spammers, but there were also legal implications. It seems Google is now aligning with regulations to avoid sharing personally identifying data.

Why You Should Care: If you’re aiming to submit a spam report to Google, make sure it doesn’t contain any personally identifying information. Should you inadvertently include such information, rest assured that it won’t reach the reported site and the report simply won’t be processed. You can always resubmit your report without these details.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
April 24, 2026
Google Now Uses Spam Reports for Direct Manual Actions

I’ve recently come across a noteworthy update from Google, which now enhances the potential impact of our spam reports. Interestingly, these reports are no longer just documentation—they might trigger manual actions against the reported sites. In addition, whatever I write in my report could be shared verbatim with the site owner I’ve reported.

Here’s Google’s Announcement. Google clarified in a note that they may utilize our spam report submissions to undertake manual actions against policy violations. This update makes it clear that spam reports are more critical than ever in maintaining the integrity of Google’s search results.

The updated guidelines specify:

“Ranking manipulation techniques that attempt to compromise the quality of Google’s search results violate our spam policies and can negatively impact a site’s ranking. Google may use your report to take manual action against violations. If we issue a manual action, we send whatever you write in the submission report verbatim to the site owner to help them understand the context of the manual action. We don’t include any other identifying information when we notify the site owner; as long as you avoid including personal information in the open text field, the report remains anonymous.”

Spam Reports Fuel Manual Actions. It seems that Google aims to clarify their usage of spam reports. This is quite the shift from their previous communication, where spam reports didn’t directly lead to manual actions. To me, this feels like more than just a clarification—it’s a significant development in how reports are handled.

Direct Transmission of Spam Report Text. Also, Google stated that the exact text I use in my spam report might be sent to the site owner. They advise us not to include personal details, as my submission remains anonymous unless I disclose such information.

Google emphasizes the importance of keeping sensitive information out of the report to ensure my anonymity is maintained.

Why This Matters to Us. This change could significantly alter how we approach spam reporting on Google. If you’re someone who regularly submits these reports, like I do, it’s essential to understand the new implications and modify your reporting practices accordingly.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

April 15, 2026