Questions Arise Regarding Purported Google Data Breach

Many SEO experts are now saying that the supposed Google data leak was not actually a leak. They believe that it did not reveal any ranking algorithm secrets, was outdated by five years, and did not provide any new information. While not everyone shares this view, it is common for SEO professionals to have differing opinions on such matters.

According to a report by SEJ published yesterday, there were indications that the leaked data was not related to ranking algorithms and that several important questions remained unanswered.

Our opinion on the alleged leak is that there is currently no solid proof that the leaked data is from Google Search. It may not have any connection to how websites are ranked in Google Search.

At this point we have more information and many SEOs are saying that the information is not an algorithm data dump.

Some SEOs Urged Caution

Tweet By Ex-Googler Pedro Dias

Some people in the search community immediately believed in the data leak claims, but others who value accuracy advised taking a step back, considering different perspectives, and keeping an open mind to all potential scenarios.

Tweet with the following words: There's nothing worse than information without context. Also, there’s no point in trying to explain anything to someone that only accepts what aligns with their predefined assumptions and biases.

Ryan Jones was the first to offer a modest note of caution, advising people in a tweet to view the information objectively and without preconceived ideas.

Ex-Googler Pedro Dias tweeted:

“Have no issues with the shared data. And advising caution on the interpretation of some items.”

Pedro then posted another tweet to clarify why he couldn't provide specific comments:

"I can only share my own thoughts. It's important to consider the context and allow room for different interpretations."

Someone tweeted that Pedro’s response didn’t add anything to the discussion.

Pedro responded:

I didn't actually say that. What I've been trying to convey is just a reminder to be cautious when making assumptions. If you feel that's not useful, I apologize.

Later on, the ex-Googler shared on Twitter the significance of engaging in discussions.

“Let’s remind everyone:

– It’s healthy to bring logical arguments to a discussion.

– It’s not healthy to expect everyone to buy opinions without discussing. Especially when it comes from data sources lacking context.”

Search marketing expert Dean Cruddance tweeted:

“There isn’t anything that gives away the secret sauce.”

To which ex-Googler Pedro Dias responded:

“100%

But the impact of this, fuels a lot of tinfoil hattery and simplistic takes on search, which is suboptimal.

In the end, I believe it’s more detrimental than beneficial. Not for the information it contains, but by how it’s gonna be spun and interpreted.”

This SEO Is Not Buying It

As the day went on, more and more SEOs started to question the leak. Trevor Stolber, a search marketing expert with twenty years of experience, shared his thoughts on the alleged leak on his LinkedIn profile. He mentioned that he was not convinced by it.

“It’s from a deprecated code base (still very interesting – but old and not used)

It’s not actually from their ranking algorithm, it is an API used internally

We already knew most of the things that are in there

Good production code documentation would specify ranges and values – I see none of that here

Google does not rely on Domain Authority (DA) like it used to with Page Rank (PR). Kristine Schachinger, an SEO expert I know, mentioned that the leaked information is from 2019.

I've been going through the raw dump files, and I've noticed that they are all from 2019. Honestly, most of the pages don't really provide any useful information — I totally agree.

During the discussion, some people openly doubted if it was a real leak. The general consensus was that there wasn't anything groundbreaking in the dump. Instead, many suggested focusing on Google's new AI Overviews, especially since AI doesn't adhere to traditional ranking factors.

The Originator of Modern SEO

Brett Tabke, often referred to as the father of modern SEO, holds a prominent position in the SEO community. He is the mastermind behind the renowned PubCon search marketing conference and the creator of WebmasterWorld, which was once the biggest and most influential SEO forum globally. Brett is also credited with coining the term SERPs, which stands for search engine results pages.

Brett devoted five hours to studying the data leak and then posted his observations on Facebook.

Among his observations (paraphrased):

This is not a leak

There is zero in it that’s directly algorithm related but rather they are API calls.

He found nothing that points to how any of the data could be used as part of a ranking algorithm.

Ash Nallawalla, an enterprise SEO with over 20 years of experience commented:

Google Data Leak: Where Are The Facts?

As I've mentioned before, this is simply an API document containing a list of calls, not a dump of algorithm code. At best, we can gain some insight into Google's internal terminology.

The SEO community is realizing that the recent Google algorithm data leak was not as anticipated. Surprisingly, it wasn't leaked by a Google employee either. Many are now acknowledging that there is nothing groundbreaking in the information and that it is simply a distraction.

Editor's P/S:

The alleged Google data leak has sparked a heated debate within the SEO community. While some experts believe it was a legitimate leak that revealed valuable ranking algorithm secrets, others contend that it was simply outdated information or not related to ranking algorithms at all. The lack of clear evidence and the differing opinions among SEO professionals make it difficult to determine the true nature of the leak.

It is important to note that the data leak has not been officially confirmed by Google, and there are many unanswered questions surrounding it. Some experts have suggested that the data may have been fabricated or obtained through unethical means. It is also possible that the leak was part of a disinformation campaign aimed at confusing and misleading SEO professionals. Until more information becomes available, it is advisable to approach the alleged leak with caution and rely on reputable sources for SEO guidance.