DIGITAL LIFE

Google confirms authenticity of leaked Search documents

Google confirmed to The Verge, on Wednesday (29), the authenticity of the 2,500 leaked internal documents that provide details about how the big tech search engine's algorithm works.

Google confirmed the authenticity of 2,500 leaked internal documents that detail the functioning of the search engine's algorithm. The documents provide an unprecedented, although still limited, view of the system;

The documents reveal that Google monitors data that can be used by the ranking algorithm, although the company emphasizes caution in interpreting this information, which may be out of context or out of date;

SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King were the first to report the existence of the leaked documents, which suggest that Google may use Chrome user and click data, which contradicts the company's previous statements;

The thousands of pages serve as a repository of information for Google employees, but it's unclear what data is actually used in ranking search content. Additionally, the information may be old or used for training purposes only.

The documents in question detail the data monitoring carried out by Google – data that can be used by the classification algorithm, protected under lock and key. In doing so, they offer an unprecedented, if still nebulous, peek into one of the most important systems shaping the web.

“We urge caution when making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information,” Google spokesperson Davis Thompson told The Verge in an email. “We share extensive information about how Search works and the types of factors our systems consider, while also working to protect the integrity of our results from manipulation.”

The existence of the leaked material was initially described by search engine optimization (SEO) experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, who published initial analyzes of the documents earlier this week.

The leaked material suggests that big tech collects and (possibly) uses data that company representatives said does not contribute to page rankings in Google Search, such as clicks and data from Chrome users.

The thousands of pages of documents act as a repository of information for Google employees, but it's unclear which parts of the detailed data are actually used to rank search content.

Important caveat: Information may be out of date, used strictly for training purposes, or collected but not used specifically for the Search. The documents also do not reveal how different elements are weighted in the search, if at all.

Google is generally tight-lipped about how its search algorithm works, but these leaked documents — along with recent testimony in the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case — provide more clarity about what big tech considers when listing sites in users' searches.

mundophone